Identified! PA - Bensalem, Bucks Co., WhtMale, 30-40, on bank of Delaware River, COD drowning, 19 Oct'03 - Edward Anthony Nece *identified 2024*

[ifindedout]

Police ID man more than 20 years after he was found dead in Delaware River in Bensalem

A man who was found dead in the banks of the Delaware River more than 20 years ago has now been identified, police said.

www.nbcphiladelphia.com

On Oct. 19, 2003, two fishermen discovered the body of a man in a drainage area on the Yellow Freight Property at 2627 State Road in Bensalem Township. The man had no identification and his description didn’t match any reports of missing persons in the area at the time.

An autopsy determined the cause of death was drowning and there was no trauma to the body. Investigators did not determine a manner of death however.

[...]

In December 2022, Bensalem Police obtained hair samples from the Bucks County Coroner’s Office that were collected during the autopsy. Those samples were sent to a private laboratory where a DNA profile was obtained.

[...]

The investigation then led them to Edward Nece of Riverside, New Jersey. On Oct. 19, 2023, exactly 20 years after the body was discovered, Nece told investigators that his son went missing 20 years prior. Nece provided a DNA sample that was then compared to the DNA recovered from the unidentified man. The DNA match then confirmed that man was Nece’s son, Edward Anthony Nece.

No existing thread that I could find. Nece's NamUs entry:

Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP2241

View NamUs unclaimed person case UCP2241 for -- -- missing from Bensalem, Pennsylvania. Date body found: Oct 19, 2003. NCMEC case number: --.

namus.nij.ojp.gov

 

[dotr]

20-year-old Bensalem cold case finally closed thanks to genealogy

Edward Anthony Nece was identified as the man found dead at the banks of the Delaware River in Bucks County thanks to genealogy, ending a 20-year-old cold case.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[imstilla.grandma]

An organization called Cold Case Initiative got involved and paid for a genealogy search using DNA gathered. This lead police to Edward Nece from Riverside.

On Oct. 19, 2023, exactly 20 years after the body was discovered, authorities say Nece told investigators that his son, Edward Anthony Nece, hadn't been heard from for 20 years.

He provided a DNA sample which confirmed the unidentified man was indeed his son.

Burlington County man identified in 20-year-old cold case

A 20-year-old cold case was solved using DNA testing.

newjersey.news12.com