TN Thomas Christopher Williams - last seen at his residence in New Market, TN, on March 1st, 2023.

[CuriousCricket]

What happened to this New Market, TN man, and why didn't his case receive coverage?

I can't believe there isn't a thread here.

Popped up on Tennessee Missing and Unsolved on Facebook this morning, but I'm not finding anything online. Apparently a body has been discovered that is believed to have been Mr. Williams.

Very strange

 

[truthfinder2019]

Thomas is on NamUs

Missing Person / NamUs #MP101691

View NamUs missing person case MP101691 for THOMAS CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS missing from New Market, Tennessee. Date of last contact: Mar 01, 2023. NCMEC case number: --.

namus.nij.ojp.gov

Person Wanted for questioning, then arrested on unrelated charges: not linking as not a PoI, but if you gooogle you also find the criminal history.

Unidentified person : same potential name

Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP130914

View NamUs unidentified persons case UP130914, for Thomas Christopher Williams, body found Russellville, Tennessee. Date body found: Aug 21, 2024. NCMEC case number: --.

namus.nij.ojp.gov

Weird. No DNA analysis ??

 

[GraceG]

Thomas is on NamUs

Missing Person / NamUs #MP101691

View NamUs missing person case MP101691 for THOMAS CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS missing from New Market, Tennessee. Date of last contact: Mar 01, 2023. NCMEC case number: --.

namus.nij.ojp.gov

Person Wanted for questioning, then arrested on unrelated charges: not linking as not a PoI, but if you gooogle you also find the criminal history.

Unidentified person : same potential name

Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP130914

View NamUs unidentified persons case UP130914, for Thomas Christopher Williams, body found Russellville, Tennessee. Date body found: Aug 21, 2024. NCMEC case number: --.

namus.nij.ojp.gov

Weird. No DNA analysis ??

DNA analysis isn't automatically done on unidentified remains. A surprising number are never tested.

Sometimes it's lack of DNA comparitive material (no known bio family, etc. ). Sometimes it's because due to the length of time since death, there's not a sampling that might be considered useable. Unfortunately DNA begins to degrade immediately when cell death by autolysis occurs (when the cell is no longer in contact with the body’s circulating oxygen supply.) DNA is further degraded by microbes present both inside and outside of the body. That degradation continues over long periods of time as naturally occurring hydrolytic and oxidative chemical reactions further damage the molecules. A variety of factors act to accelerate or slow the biological degradation process.(the process if known as Molecular taphonomy if there are any science geeks out here who want to further read)

On the plus side, DNA often persists in bones and teeth much longer than in the soft tissues of the body, their rigid structure providiing some protection against DNA degradation.

After two years though, I think they'd be able to get a good sampling from bone and/or teeth. I don't know if the FBI was involved with this one but they can usually compare DNA profiles from remains to those in national databases such as the National Missing Person DNA Database (NMPDD). This process involves collecting DNA from relatives of missing persons and from the unidentified remains, then comparing them in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS).