Latest news with #Forensic-GradeGenomeSequencing
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Yahoo
DNA helps identify 1997 remains found in Pierce County, homicide investigation prompted
The skeletal remains of a woman found in Pierce County in 1997 have finally been identified thanks to a DNA match, and now, detectives say they have a homicide investigation on their hands. The bones were found in October 1997 by a person walking through the woods on Gale Creek Road in Wilkeson. Wilkeson is a small town with a population of about 500 between Buckley and Carbonado. At the time, it was determined that the remains were that of a woman who was about 5′5″ and was between the ages of 20 and 50. She was wearing a dark blue long-sleeved sweatshirt with a Pacific Lutheran University logo along with a basketball logo and the word 'LUTES.' She was also found with size 7 Union Bay blue jeans. She was also found with white Reebok tennis shoes with yellow & green trim, size 4 1/2. Despite best efforts by investigators, she was not able to be identified and she became a Jane Doe in Pierce County. In October 2023, the Pierce County Sheriff's Office submitted forensic evidence to a lab in The Woodlands, Texas to determine if advanced DNA testing could help identify the woman. Scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the forensic evidence and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing to build a comprehensive genealogical profile for the unknown woman. Using this new information, a follow-up investigation was conducted, leading investigators to potential relatives of Pierce County Jane Doe. Reference DNA samples were collected from the potential relatives and compared to the DNA profile of the unknown woman. The Jane Doe was finally identified as Laurie Kay (Lester) Krage, born on Dec. 17, 1959. This case is now being investigated as a homicide and detectives are seeking any information from those that may have known Laurie Krage. They are also looking for any information on her late husband, Ronald Martin, who died in 2020 from natural causes. Detectives are seeking information about Laurie or Ronald Martin from 1995-1997. Laurie was last known to be alive in January of 1996.
CBS News
13-03-2025
- CBS News
Homicide victim identified in 1986 Monroe County cold case
Michigan authorities have identified a homicide victim whose remains were found in a wooded area in Monroe County in 1986. The Monroe County Sheriff's Office said Thursday the victim was identified as Shaun Daniel Brauner, a Detroit man who was last seen by his family in June 1986. Brauner's remains were found on Oct. 17, 1986, after a resident reported finding possible skeletal remains in a wooded lot on Lewis Avenue in Ida, Michigan. At the time of the discovery, investigators could only identify the remains as belonging to a white man between the ages of 35 and 45 years old. Medical examiners ruled Brauner's death was caused by blunt force trauma to the head and ruled the death a homicide. After exhausting all leads during their investigation, the sheriff's office sent samples of Brauner's remains to the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification for DNA analysis in the fall of 2017. In March 2018, the center was able to extract a DNA sample and submitted the sample to the Combined DNA Index System, also known as CODIS. In the fall of 2019, the case was reassigned to Detective Jeff Hooper, who worked with the Wayne County Medical Examiners Office in an attempt to identify the remains. In 2021, the detective was notified by the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification that the National DNA Index System had made a possible association with a "family reference sample," which belonged to Brauner's sister. Hooper met a family member of Brauner, who told him that her brother had gone missing in June 1986. In November 2024, Monroe County sheriff's detectives sent forensic evidence to Othram labs in The Woodlands, Texas. Scientists were able to produce a DNA extract from the skeletal remains and created a DNA profile using Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing. The profile confirmed the relationship between Brauner and his family. Brauner's remains were returned to his family.
