The Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office is facing a challenging task of identifying 58 remains found without identification or next of kin. These unidentified individuals could be lost hikers, runaway children, or wanderers, all sharing the common thread of being nameless. The hope lies in advanced DNA testing technology that could potentially attach names to these individuals and provide closure to their families.
Recently, five cases involving children and teens have been selected for additional testing, thanks to a generous grant from Othram, a cold case resolution company based in Texas. These cases include a teenager’s partial skeleton found near the airport in 2002, body parts of a young boy discovered in Waianae in 2000, fingers of a girl under 4 found in Honolulu in 2012, and skeletal remains of an adolescent mixed with animal bones in a vase from 2015. While details on these cases are limited, each represents a person deserving of closure for their family.
The medical examiner’s office has prioritized cases involving juveniles for DNA testing, as experts believe these cases stand a good chance of identification through advanced technology. One case tied to a 2014 homicide is under investigation, while for another case involving severed fingers, it remains unclear if they belong to a deceased child or a victim of trauma. The possibility of these cases being missing children cannot be ruled out until DNA testing provides answers.
With the acceptance of a grant from Othram by the Honolulu City Council, the focus is on forensic genetic genealogy testing to unravel the mysteries of these unclaimed bodies. Despite the lack of identifications so far, the commitment to utilizing DNA testing to bring closure to families remains strong. The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) offers some information on these cases, but many details are still unknown.
While some cases provide limited clues, such as a young boy’s facial reconstruction in Waianae in 2000, others present significant challenges due to the lack of available information. With advancements in DNA technology, the hope is to identify these individuals and provide answers to their families. An important success story involving the identification of William Hans Holling Jr. showcases the potential of DNA testing in solving cold cases.
Forensic genetic genealogy testing has proven instrumental in criminal investigations, as seen in cases like the Golden State Killer and the Dana Ireland murder suspect. However, the high costs associated with intensive screening and DNA testing pose a significant obstacle to resolving these cold cases. The unidentified cases in Honolulu date back to 1966 and include individuals found under various circumstances, from construction sites to remote parts of the island.
Despite the challenges, the dedication to utilizing DNA testing to identify these individuals remains unwavering. Each case represents a person with a story and a family waiting for closure. As technology continues to advance, the hope is that every unidentified case will eventually find resolution, providing answers and closure to families who have been waiting for years.
