Rankin County John Doe (2022) is now Identified
Rankin County Coroner's Office and MS State Medical Examiner Team with Othram to Identify a 2022 John Doe
''On December 7, 2022, a utility worker discovered an assemblage of skeletal remains in a wooded area near 107 S. Sweet Home Church Road in Pearl, Mississippi. The remains were partially skeletonized, with the lower body still intact and clothed, while the upper body was scattered. It was determined that the remains were that of an adult male, whose height and weight could not be determined. Traditional forensic methods were unable to confirm the man’s identity. Despite investigative efforts, no definitive identification could be made, and the case remained unresolved.
In 2024, in an effort to conclusively determine the identity of the remains, the Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office and Rankin County Coroner’s Office teamed with Othram to employ advanced forensic DNA testing.''
''Without access to a close family member, such as a parent, child, or sibling, investigators turned to KinSNP® Rapid Relationship Testing to evaluate a an uncle/nephew relationship. This additional layer of testing provided the necessary confirmation, ultimately leading to the identification of Robert Dale Hawthorne.''
Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP124875
View NamUs unidentified persons case UP124875, for -- --, body found Pearl, Mississippi. Date body found: Dec 07, 2022. NCMEC case number: --.
Body found in the woods of Pearl identified as 56-year-old man
Police are now working to see if foul play was involved.
''OTHRAM explained that they needed a known DNA sample from a family member to make a positive identification.''
''Once a sample was located by a family member, it was collected and submitted to OTHRAM.''
''Police are now working to see if foul play was involved.''
