With the help of Othram Labs, Hernando County, Florida Sheriff’s Office was able to identify the skeletal remains of a man found in 1991. While there was no finding of foul play, the man’s identity remained unknown for over 30 years.
Previously, several labs, including that of the FBI, were unsuccessful in developing a DNA profile that could be used for genetic genealogy to help identify the man:
The remains, which were discovered in Novemer 1991, were sent to several labs in an effort to obtain a DNA profile necessary for identification. With the assistance and cooperation of the District 5 Medical Examiner’s Office, and The University of South Florida Forensic Anthropology Department; the remains were sent to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), DNA Labs International, and University of North Texas’s (UNT) respective laboratories. In spite of the efforts, no identification was made.
In February 2022, skeletal remains were sent for further genetic DNA testing to Othram. Othram scientists developed a DNA extract and used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to develop a comprehensive DNA profile. Othram’s in-house genetic genealogy team used the profile to develop investigative leads that were returned [to] investigators.
https://dnasolves.com/articles/hernando-county-richard-sargent/
Thanks to Othram and follow up by the Hernando County Sheriff, the family of this Viet Nam vet will be able to give him a proper burial. Said Sheriff Al Nienhuis:
“We never stop working behind the scenes to identify remains and, if a crime can be proven, hold criminals accountable. We know that it is important to give family members answers whenever possible, even if their relative went missing decades ago,” the Sheriff said. “Although many of these cold cases hit temporary dead ends throughout the years, it is very gratifying when they finally get resolved. I am blessed to work with some very passionate, professional, and dedicated individuals who are patiently working behind the scenes to get answers on dozens of similar cases.”
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Is there no DNA material left from the OCCK case to investigate? I remember you said they claim items were lost, but everything? Are the people in charge now still beholding to those from 50 years ago?
Daryl, there are FOUR murders in the OCCK case and only a fraction of the evidence has been evaluated for DNA at all, let alone using the most sophisticated technology. That’s four sets of clothing, belongings from the kids (backpack and contents, bike, skateboard).
Some of the hair evidence was extinguished during prior testing. The partial Y-str DNA developed in Kristine’s case was not even discovered until something like 2019.
You have to ask why, in this case and in the JonBenet Ramsey murder case, law enforcement does not have all of the evidence tested or retested by a lab like Othram. And why in the hell, in such high profile cases, every effort was not made to carefully store and file ALL of the evidence to facilitate solving the crimes down the road after the initial failures.
In the Ramsey case, the CO governor seemed satisfied last year when he learned the state lab was willing/possibly/maybe to rerun or run the evidence. As this “John Doe” case establishes, even the FBI lab doesn’t always get the job done with their technology. The state lab isn’t good enough either. “Celebrity” coroners opined in JonBenet’s case that it would not be worthwhile to test her underwear because it could contain touch DNA from a factory worker in China who packaged the underwear. WTF? So what! Test the clothing anyway and then do some damn detective work to rule out DNA donors who could not be the murderer.
In many cold cases around the world, law enforcement is using third party labs to evaluate or reevaluate DNA and if possible, continue to genetic genealogy searches to identify a suspect. But in these high profile murder cases of CHILDREN, a determination is apparently made that their lives are not worth the effort and expense, or–more likely–worth having to craft some kind of explanation for what might be found.
To your point about those in charge being beholden to those who messed up this case 50 years ago, I am not willing to wait for the rest of the people involved in the OCCK case and the investigation of it to die off before we get some answers–or at least efforts made that are made every week in other cold cases.
Thank you for responding. Ive been following your blog for over 5 years. Im 62 now, but i remember this as the biggest news story back then.