Othram - General Discussion - #3

[GatorsNorth]

I need to take my DNA test soon and will upload it to @othram. Not for me, but hopefully my DNA will help solve a missing persons case or a cold case.

Thank you @othram for everything you do!

 

[othram]

I need to take my DNA test soon and will upload it to @othram. Not for me, but hopefully my DNA will help solve a missing persons case or a cold case.

Thank you @othram for everything you do!

Thanks for the support!

 

[dotr]

After 34 years, the Toronto Police Service, leveraging Othram technology and the strength of their own forensic genetic genealogy team, has identified a man found in Toronto’s Lake Ontario Harbour in 1992.

After 34 Years, Toronto John Doe (1992) is Identified

D

Identified! Thread 'Canada - Lake Ontario Harbour, Toronto John Doe, drowned, 27 July 1992, DNA - Kevin, originally from Saskatchewan, id'd 2026'

Tuesday at 6:16 PM

After 34 Years, Toronto John Doe (1992) is Identified

Toronto Police Service Leverages Othram Technology to Identify a 1992 John Doe

dnasolves.com

''In July 1992, the remains of an unidentified individual were found in Lake Ontario Harbour in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Toronto Police Service responded to a call for a man's body found in the water in the Inner Harbour area of Lake Ontario.

It was determined the remains belonged an adult man who had likely died weeks or months before being found. He was in his 20's or 30's, weighed about 160 lbs and stood about 5'10" tall. He had long dark brown hair. He was wearing two t-shirts, two pairs of jeans and...

• dotr

• 

 

[dotr]

The Michigan State Police Cold Case Unit, working with Othram, has identified a suspect in the 1983 abduction and murder of 16-year-old Sherri Jo Elliott in Flint, Michigan, more than four decades after her death.

After 42 Years, Sherri Jo Elliot's Killer is Now Identified

Michigan State Police Team with Othram to Identify the Suspect in the 1983 murder of Sherri Jo Elliot

dnasolves.com

D

Resolved Thread 'MI - Sheri Jo Elliott, 16, last seen waiting for a bus, SA & fatally shot, Blumfield Township, 20 Nov 1983, DNA - Roni Collins (born 1950, dec. 2026)'

Tuesday at 6:33 PM

After 42 Years, Sherri Jo Elliot's Killer is Now Identified

Michigan State Police Team with Othram to Identify the Suspect in the 1983 murder of Sherri Jo Elliot

dnasolves.com

''On November 16, 1983, Sherri Jo Elliot was reported missing when she did not return home from school in Flint, Michigan. Elliott, who was 16 years old, was last seen waiting for the bus. Police and residents spent days searching the area. Four days after her disappearance on November 20, 1983, Elliot's body was found along a rural road in Blumfield Township, Michigan. Police said she had been shot multiple times and sexually assaulted.

Evidence was collected at the crime scene, but despite an...

• dotr

• 

 

[othram]

Coming out tomorrow!!!

Episode 2 of our new YouTube series: “She Died Without a Name. 60 Years Later, She Reunited Her Children.”

Full episode out tomorrow. But this is the preview, below:

If you missed Episode 1, it is here:

.

 

[tricia]

You are invited to an Othram Watch Party today (April 16th) at 12:00 NOON Eastern. We will play the new Othram video, and you can join us in chat. A representative from Othram will be in our chat. @Fraize, and I will be on the panel discussing the new video by Othram. Click on the video below to join our watch party today April 16th at 12 PM Eastern.

 

[othram]

Episode 2 of our new YouTube series Trace Identity is out!

This one is powerful. It tells the story of two siblings reunited after 60 years, made possible through the identification of their murdered mother.

Please watch and share it with others. Every view helps extend this work to more families still waiting for answers.

 

[TalkToTofana]

Does her case have a thread on here? What incredible work!

 

[The4TierBridge]

Does her case have a thread on here? What incredible work!

Link is here: MD - MD - Woodstock, WhtFem 35-60, UP11923, found alive/injured in a field, died Sep'71, Jul'71 (Sarah Sharkey)

 

[othram]

The Hood River County Sheriff’s Office, working with the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office, used advanced DNA testing from Othram to identify Kenneth Martin and help resolve the decades-old 1958 Martin family mystery.

After 67 Years, the Martin Family Members are Identified

 

[BigCityAccountant]

Episode 2 of our new YouTube series Trace Identity is out!

This one is powerful. It tells the story of two siblings reunited after 60 years, made possible through the identification of their murdered mother.

Please watch and share it with others. Every view helps extend this work to more families still waiting for answers.

WOW! Just WOW! This made me cry along with the siblings. I sure hope someone comes forward with the information to hold those responsible for their mothers death accountable for their actions. To Detective Zufall, may God light your way and may he always keep you safe. To Othram, may God continue to give you the knowledge to help victims everywhere regain their identity and their dignity. God Bless you all at Othram.

 

[iamshadow21]

The Hood River County Sheriff’s Office, working with the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office, used advanced DNA testing from Othram to identify Kenneth Martin and help resolve the decades-old 1958 Martin family mystery.

After 67 Years, the Martin Family Members are Identified

Their thread: OR - OR - Martin Family: Ken 54, Barbara 48, Barbie 15, Columbia River Gorge, 7 December 1958

It says in the release that all members are now considered identified, even though only Kenneth's remains were found. I assume that if remains of Barbie or Barbara are found they'll be able to be linked to Kenneth's identification. Stranger things have happened; river silt tends to be anaerobic, good at preserving bone. Kennewick Man was found in a riverbank, they got DNA from him, and he lived eight or nine thousand years ago.

MOO

 

[The4TierBridge]

Their thread: OR - OR - Martin Family: Ken 54, Barbara 48, Barbie 15, Columbia River Gorge, 7 December 1958

It says in the release that all members are now considered identified, even though only Kenneth's remains were found. I assume that if remains of Barbie or Barbara are found they'll be able to be linked to Kenneth's identification. Stranger things have happened; river silt tends to be anaerobic, good at preserving bone. Kennewick Man was found in a riverbank, they got DNA from him, and he lived eight or nine thousand years ago.

MOO

Remains of three people were recovered. Only Kenneth Martin was identified forensically.

OR Thread 'OR - Hood River, UP149885, UP149889, UP149893, bones of three individuals found from Columbia River, 19 Aug 2025'

Feb 19, 2026

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

UP149885 - adult female, possible name listed as Barbara Jean Martin
UP149889 - no gender/race given but under ID lists possibly Kenneth R Martin
UP149893 - listed as an adolescent, possible ID Barbara 'Barbie' Martin.

Namus description: Vehicle recovered from Columbia River on March 7, 2025. Private SCUBA diver recovered remains August 19, 2025 at vehicle site.

• Romulus
• Replies: 3
• Forum: The Unidentified

• 
• 

 

[iamshadow21]

DBM

 

[iamshadow21]

Remains of three people were recovered. Only Kenneth Martin was identified forensically.

OR Thread 'OR - Hood River, UP149885, UP149889, UP149893, bones of three individuals found from Columbia River, 19 Aug 2025'

Feb 19, 2026

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

UP149885 - adult female, possible name listed as Barbara Jean Martin
UP149889 - no gender/race given but under ID lists possibly Kenneth R Martin
UP149893 - listed as an adolescent, possible ID Barbara 'Barbie' Martin.

Namus description: Vehicle recovered from Columbia River on March 7, 2025. Private SCUBA diver recovered remains August 19, 2025 at vehicle site.

• Romulus
• Replies: 3
• Forum: The Unidentified

• 
• 

Okay, that wasn't clear from the press release.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

The Hood River County Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday the people inside were Kenneth Martin, Barbara Martin and Barbie Martin. Their remains were confirmed through DNA analysis by Othram, Inc., a forensic genetics laboratory.

“Othram uses the identity inference method, which allows scientists to identify individuals from DNA evidence even when no direct comparison sample is initially available,” Sgt. Joel Ives, a spokesperson with the sheriff’s office, said in a statement.

Medical examiner’s office confirms missing family found in Columbia River

The Martin Family disappeared while visiting the Columbia River Gorge in December 1958.

www.opb.org

 

[othram]

WOW! Just WOW! This made me cry along with the siblings. I sure hope someone comes forward with the information to hold those responsible for their mothers death accountable for their actions. To Detective Zufall, may God light your way and may he always keep you safe. To Othram, may God continue to give you the knowledge to help victims everywhere regain their identity and their dignity. God Bless you all at Othram.

Thank you so much for watching!

 

[othram]

A half-century of distance… resolved by a single DNA test.

If you have not seen the episode, you are missing out!

 

[Snoopster]

A half-century of distance… resolved by a single DNA test.

If you have not seen the episode, you are missing out!

I agree! DNA is so powerful and to see Othram and law enforcement work together to solve these kinds of cases is fantastic, and, in a case like this one, heartwarming. My hat goes off to the Othram staff and the detective in this case.

Give the video a watch if you haven't had a chance to.

 

[musicaljoke]

I agree! DNA is so powerful and to see Othram and law enforcement work together to solve these kinds of cases is fantastic, and, in a case like this one, heartwarming. My hat goes off to the Othram staff and the detective in this case.

Give the video a watch if you haven't had a chance to.

I really like seeing that the work doesn't end with identifying the victim. This officer's compassion lead him to reuniting the siblings who had been lost from one another since childhood.