Lancaster County Coroner and DNA Doe Project Identify 1998 John Doe - American Crime Journal

Lacking Harrisburg man matched to unidentified stays

Turkey Level Joe Doe recognized as James Floyd Gibson

Lancaster County, PA – The physique of a person recovered from the Susquehanna River in April, 1998 has been positively recognized as James Floyd Gibson of Harrisburg. Gibson had final been seen in February of the identical yr.

In 2023, the Lancaster County Coroner’s Workplace engaged the DNA Doe Challenge to make use of investigative genetic family tree to aim identification of the person after 25 years. A DNA profile was developed, and volunteer investigative genetic genealogists started the painstaking technique of constructing the John Doe’s household tree in January of this yr. By mid-March, that they had traced his connection to 2 distant cousins and positioned his department of the household tree, main them to his lacking individuals report within the NamUS.gov database.

When his stays had been recovered in 1998, investigators believed he was Caucasian. They famous important autopsy modifications within the physique that made identification extraordinarily troublesome.

“Estimating the ancestry of human stays is usually advanced, and this case illustrates how investigative genetic family tree can help investigations by providing extra correct estimates via DNA evaluation of unidentified people,” mentioned DNA Doe Challenge Workforce Chief Tracie Boyle. “We’re honored to have contributed to the identification of James Gibson, offering his household with much-needed solutions.”

The DNA Doe Challenge is grateful to the teams and people who helped resolve this case: the Lancaster County Coroner’s Workplace, who entrusted the case to the DNA Doe Challenge; Astrea Forensics for extraction of DNA from a tooth, pattern prep, and whole-genome sequencing; Kevin Lord for bioinformatics; GEDmatch Professional and FTDNA for offering their databases; and DDP’s devoted groups of volunteer investigative genetic genealogists who work tirelessly to convey all our Jane and John Does dwelling.

Concerning the DNA Doe Challenge

The DNA Doe Challenge is a volunteer-driven 501(c)(3) non-profit group with the mission to determine John and Jane Does and return them to their households and communities. Investigative genetic family tree analysis is supplied professional bono to our companions in legislation enforcement, however the group depends on donations to fund lab prices and operational help of our volunteers. Up to now, DDP has helped resolve greater than 120 instances of unidentified human stays. For extra about our work and to hitch our mission, go to our web site: https://dnadoeproject.org.