Pueblo County coroner partners with forensic lab to identify human remains found in 2017
The Pueblo County Coroner's Office and Pueblo Police Department are partnering with the Texas forensic DNA lab Othram to identify a John Doe whose remains were found in 2017, according to a recent news release.
The unidentified man's skeletal remains were discovered April 17, 2017.
Firefighters with the Pueblo Fire Department were dispatched around 1:35 p.m. that day to Fountain Creek near 800 Gruma Drive on reports of a brush fire, which was found to be near a train bridge over Fountain Creek east of the road.
Police said in 2017 that while the blaze was being extinguished, firefighters observed the remains of a body. Pueblo police investigators then responded and confirmed the recovery of skeletal remains.
The remains were scorched by the fire, but not destroyed, according to the release.
Investigators have determined that the man was an adult with a height between 5 feet 11 inches and 6 feet 3 inches and was either of white or Latino ancestry, according to the release from Othram. No other identifying characteristics were found at the time the remains were discovered.
"Othram scientists will work to develop a suitable DNA extract that can be used to develop a comprehensive DNA profile to be used in records research and forensic genetic genealogy," Othram officials said in the release.
"People need to know that even though this is an old case, and even though the remains were burned, we have the ability to identify this man," said Othram Chief Development Officer Kristen Mittelman in the release. "Whoever this man was, his family deserves to know what happened to him and we can make that happen."
Pueblo County Coroner Brian Cotter also praised the DNA work done by Othram.
"The ever-developing and emerging DNA technology is a blessing," Cotter said in the release. "This technology helps us find identity for even our most difficult cases."
Othram has begun crowdfunding to cover the cost of the casework. As of Friday, they had raised $873 toward a $7,500 goal.
Details of the case have also been entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons system.
Anyone with information that could aid the investigation is encouraged to contact the Pueblo County Coroner's Office by calling 719-583-4673 and referencing agency case number 196-2017.
Cotter and Othram could not be reached by the Chieftain for further comment on March 7.
More public safety news: Pueblo woman pleads guilty to murder charge for shooting, killing man in 2023
Questions, comments, or story tips? Contact Justin at jreutterma@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formally known as Twitter, @jayreutter1. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain atsubscribe.chieftain.com.
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo coroner working with DNA lab to ID body found in 2017
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