In March 2024, what began as a routine traffic stop in Natchez, Mississippi, led to a disturbing discovery that would take months of scientific work to unravel.
During the stop, the driver directed officers with the Natchez Police Department to a remote location just ten feet off the road between Fatherland Road and the turnoff to First Lutheran Church. There, beneath a layer of fallen leaves, officers uncovered skeletal remains buried in a shallow grave. The remains were largely intact, but the head was missing.
The Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office determined that the remains belonged to an adult male estimated to stand between 5 feet 9 inches and 6 feet 4 inches tall. An identification card found nearby suggested the man may have been around 70 years old. However, authorities were unable to confirm his identity. Despite a lengthy investigation, the man remained unidentified and became known as “Natchez John Doe.” His case was entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP124871.
In June 2024, in an effort to advance the investigation, the Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office partnered with Othram, a forensic laboratory based in The Woodlands, Texas, to determine whether advanced DNA testing could help identify the remains. The partnership was reported at the time by the Natchez Democrat, which can be read here
Othram scientists developed a DNA extract from the skeletal evidence and used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile. The company’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team then conducted a forensic search using the profile, generating new investigative leads that were returned to law enforcement.
With this new information, investigators conducted follow-up work that led them to potential relatives of the unidentified man. A reference DNA sample was collected from a possible family member and compared to the unknown man’s DNA profile using Othram’s KinSNP® rapid relationship testing. The testing confirmed a close biological relationship, ultimately identifying the man as William Francis Harrington of Kentucky.
The advanced DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy work in the case was funded through DNASolves®, Othram’s crowdfunding platform. Donations from members of the public helped cover the costs associated with the specialized testing required to generate investigative leads.
According to Othram, this marks the 38th publicly announced case in Mississippi in which officials have utilized the company’s identity inference pipeline to assist in identifying unidentified human remains.
Authorities have not released additional details about the circumstances surrounding Harrington’s death, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Othram’s website with information about the case can be found here
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