Every year about 1000 human remains go unidentified in the U.S. New genetic technology can give them names and return them to their families
On June 5, 2017, Ashley Loring Heavyrunner disappeared from the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana. The then 20-year-old college student stopped by her parents’ house that day and went to a party; then, at some point, she became part of an epidemic of missing Indigenous women. Six years later she’s still missing.
According to an estimate from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, each year more than 4,000 sets of human remains are found in the United States, and of those about a quarter stay unidentified after one year. The situation is particularly dire for Native American populations. No single database tracks missing and murdered Indigenous women, but figures from the National Crime Information Center suggest that nearly 5,500 missing persons reports of Indigenous women and girls were filed in 2022 alone.
Now, Budowle says, investigators are using the same approaches to link unidentified remains to missing persons. Parabon, for instance, says that of the 293 cases they have helped to solve to date, 77 have involved unidentified remains. One limitation remains, however: DNA profiles from a broad population are needed for comparison with remains. Because of privacy concerns, the U.S. Department of Justice and some states have dialed back on law enforcement’s access to ancestry databases.
This time the work paid off. In January 2023 the remains were identified as belonging to Daisy Mae Tallman, also known as Daisy Mae Heath, a Native American woman who was 29 years old when she disappeared in 1987. Her remains were returned to her family.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
New Playground, New Court, New Classroom? Thank Ozempic.Philanthropies with large stakes in weight-loss drugmakers Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk have surged in value and are now among the biggest in the world
Read more »
T-Mobile vs Verizon and Apple vs Samsung: New 5G speed tests yield predictable winnersAdrian, a mobile technology enthusiast since the Nokia 3310 era, has been a dynamic presence in the tech journalism field, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Trends, and Pocketnow before joining PhoneArena in 2018. His expertise spans across various platforms, with a particular fondness for the diversity of the Android ecosystem.
Read more »
Quantum Leap Season 2 Tests Ben & Addison's Relationship In New Ways, Teases ShowrunnerQuantum Leap showrunner Dean Georgaris reveals how season 2 of the series will test Ben and Addison's relationship in new, complicated ways.
Read more »
From free to fee: X tests a new $1/year subscription tier in two countriesTsveta, a passionate technology enthusiast and accomplished playwright, combines her love for mobile technologies and writing to explore and reveal the transformative power of tech.
Read more »
Elon Musk’s X Tests Charging New Users To Sign UpThe platform formerly known as Twitter says its Not a Bot program -- launched in the Philippines and New Zealand -- aims to cut down on spam and fake accounts.
Read more »
Ten People In Treatment As Kitten Tests Positive For 'New' Rabies StrainDr. Lindsay Huse said it was vital the disease does not spread as it could result in 'a significant increase in the number of rabies cases and human exposures.'
Read more »