Who Are You? Case Studies in Human Identification

1. Who Are You? Case Studies in Human Identification Dana Austin, PhD, DABFA Forensic Anthropologist Human Identification Lab Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s District

3. Human Id Laboratory • Director and Odontologist • Roger Metcalf, D.D.S. • Anthropologist • Dana Austin, Ph.D. • Fingerprint Examiners • Bill Bailey • Bill Walker • Interns • Paul Coffman & Others

5. TCME Unidentified 12/5/07 • 59 males / 12 females / 1 unknown • Currently 73 cases from 1982 – 2007 • 17 different law enforcement agencies • 19 homicides /26 undetermined / 1 unk • Better for assistance from law enforcement • 15 accidental / 9 natural / 3 suicide • Can mean less interest from LE

7. Protocol for Cold Cases • Case file retrieval and review • Files retained in Anthropology laboratory • NCIC entry or modification • Modification of biological profile • Addition of dental codes

8. Protocol for Cold Cases • CODISmp sample submission • Blood swatches/cards • Bone • Paraffin-embedded tissue blocks • Known hair samples • Fingerprints • Classification entry into NCIC • Upload into AFIS/IAFIS/IDENT • Follow-up with possible matches • $M messages from NCIC • Leads from networks or citizens

9. Additional Measures • Scan photos and submit to internet based databases • Tattoos • Facial photos • Facial Reconstruction • Clay reconstruction from skulls • Sketches from body photos • Enter into other databases • UDRS • Doe Network

10. Manpower ! • Grant Funded Part-time Employee • Employment period 2 mos. • Began June 4, 2007 • 1st identification June 20, 2007 • Two ids on July 13, 2007 • Grant extension expired July 30, 2007 • 3 additional id’s since he left • Application in for Jan-Jun, 2008

11. 4 Years Unidentified • 2002 John Doe • Several tentative id’s were obtained at the scene from medicine bottles and a vehicle • Lexis Nexis used to track down names and vehicle • Leads ran to dead ends or left open questions

12. 2006 Resolution • Requested all reports from LE. Their follow-up and questioning suggested one name. • Medical records and fingerprints were obtained • Chest radiographs and fingerprints matched

13. 4 Years Unidentified • 2003 John Doe • Apparent Transient • Unwitnessed Accident • Thumbprints searched through TX DPS AFIS database

14. 2007 Resolution • Family member called ME office asking for missing relative • Hospital records located for MP but no radiographs or dental records found • FWPD missing persons tracked down archived fingerprints on MP • TCME database showed 4 possible John Doe that fit time frame and had f.p. to compare

15. What did we miss? • Fingerprint did not hit in AFIS • Individual was reported missing to FWPD • MP case was mis-filed • Tenacity of family paid off

16. 4 Years Unidentified • 2003 John Doe • Fell or jumped from downtown parking garage • Thumbprints searched through TX DPS AFIS database

17. 2007 Resolution • Fingerprints were run again through TX DPS AFIS system • Candidate search identified decedent this time

18. What did we miss? • Fingerprint did not hit in AFIS in 2003 • If fingerprints are still available it is worth the time to try again • Different fingers may produce a positive result

19. Dec. 1994 Train-Pedestrian • Train unable to stop, body on tracks • Young Hispanic male • Handwritten notes in pocket possibly indicate suicide • Train ticket from Dallas to Ft Worth for 2 days earlier • Fingerprints checked with no results

20. July 2007 • Call from UNTHSC DNA Identity Lab • Cold hit on our 1994 John Doe • TCME submitted Blood swatch 3/06 • Family reference sample submitted by LE 2/06 • 7th cold hit for UNTHSC • Family notified in person by LE

21. TX Missing Persons DNA Database • Housed at UNTHSC in Fort Worth • Funded by State Legislation in 2001 • Extractions begun March 2003 • Accepts cases of unidentified remains and relatives of missing persons • First lab to use CODISmp software

22. Texas Missing Person’s DNA Database 7/16/07 • Current Profiles for Unidentified/Missing • 470 Unidentified remains • 1210 Relatives of Missing Persons • 108 identifications to date • 7 Cold Hits to date • 1st Id in August 2003

23. National Missing Person DNA Database (NMPDD) • 2005 data Profiles for Unidentified/Missing • 158 Missing Persons • 415 Relatives of Missing Persons • 203 Unidentified Remains • Current numbers (July 07) are less than 5000 combined

24. What did we miss? • Family reported him missing to the local PD • No NCIC entry • No check with the MEO • Family continued to follow-up with their local PD • We had a train ticket with his last name and did not look at MPCH webpage for that name • MPCH webpage had his date of disappearance off by one year

25. October 1991 Homicide • Unknown male recovered from Trinity River • Young Hispanic Male • An officer recognizes decedent but does not know legal name • Decedent resided at Night Shelter • Interviews suggested two possible names

26. July 2007 • Fingerprints search through TX DPS AFIS • Name was the same as one name suggested in 1991 • Family members still not located in Mexico for notification

27. June 1989 Homicide • Unknown male inside parked vehicle transported to hospital vomiting and seizing • Thought to be heat stroke • Citation in pocket for panhandling Name and date of birth obtained from ticket • Hospital changes John Doe to name on ticket

28. June 2007 • Fingerprints located in main file • Right thumb searched through AFIS • AFIS produced a name with a 9999 score • Fingerprint comparison confirmed the id • Name was different but DOB the same as the panhandling citation • Family member notified in person by LE

29. AFIS/IAFIS • Most states have AFIS database run by State Police or DPS • When we search through TX AFIS we are searching only the TX database • IAFIS (Integrated Automated Fingerprint Id System) combines fingerprint databases from contributing state & federal agencies • Maintained by the FBI • Access by law enforcement agencies

30. What did we miss? • Family did not report him missing • Fingerprints were stored in an archived file • Date of birth on citation was correct

31. 22 Years Unidentified1985-2007 • Train-Pedestrian fatality 9/7/1985 • Estimated to be 20 y.o. Hispanic Male • Postmortem fingerprints retained by agency

32. 22 Years Unidentified1985-2007 • In 2007, agency did not have original prints or any evidence in their storage • A letter showing that a copy of the fingerprints was mailed to MPCH in 1991 • MPCH requested fingerprint search by Biometric Support Center West

33. BSC West/DHS Fingerprint Center • Services available to LE and ME 24/7. Response is 6-12 hrs from receipt • Multiple fingerprint databases including IAFIS & IDENT (DHS/Immigration) • 70% of IDENT prints are not in IAFIS • They helped us id two Italian nationals • All foreign nationals entering US give index finger prints. Info included when they entered US, where they entered, but no NOK

34. What did we miss? • Fingerprints not centralized and searchable in 1985 • No information on NOK

35. 22 Years Unidentified • Bones were recovered in May 1993 by Johnson Co. ME • LE re-looked at case in 2003 • Bone sample submitted to TX Missing Person’s DNA database • Skeleton submitted to Tarrant County Anthropologist for analysis and facial reconstruction

36. June 2003 NCIC Modification • Texas Missing Persons Clearinghouse assisted us in modifying the entry • Age, PMI, stature & cause of death were modified • Dental codes were added • Modified entry was re-run against possible missing females

37. Facial Reconstruction by Suzanne Baldon

38. June 2004 • The Texas Missing Persons DNA database links our skeletal remains to Donna Williamson • This was the first COLD HIT for the database

39. What did we miss? • Donna Williamson disappeared in 1982 when she was 19 years 11 mos old • MP & UNID profiles were in NCIC. Donna was eliminated as possible because her dental was entered reverse left-right

40. Missing Person Clearinghouses • Each U.S. state, Puerto Rico, and Canada have some type of clearinghouse • If you are active in MP or Unid cases, get to know your clearinghouse personnel • Individual states vary in their level of resources and services • NCMEC provides training, technical assist, & communication to clearinghouses • http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/ServiceServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=1421

41. Texas Missing Persons Clearinghouse • Housed under the Texas DPS Criminal Law Enforcement Division, Special Crimes Service • MPCH was established by the 69th Legislature, regular session in 1985. • 1986 MPCH became operational • Staff - 8 people

42. Texas Missing Persons Clearinghouse • Central repository for information pertaining to missing persons and unidentified living/deceased. • Assists law enforcement, families, non-profit organizations, and the general public in handling matters involving missing and unidentified persons. • Publication/distribution of photos • Training for law enforcement • Analytical support (including NCIC entry)

43. Texas Missing Persons Clearinghouse • Make new or modify NCIC entry • Search for next of kin • Easily accessible, knowledgeable • Run searches and gather responses from NCIC and collate for us

44. Summary of Id Methods • 5 cases by fingerprints • Two re-runs on TX AFIS • One hit by BSC (Dept. Homeland Security) • Three first time run • Two cold DNA hits • Two investigative clearances • Family Tenacity

45. Summary of Resources • Clearinghouses • NCIC database entry • DNA database entry • Unid body • Family reference sample for MP cases • Fingerprint databases • Statewide (TX DPS) • IAFIS (FBI) • Ident (DHS) • Webpages

46. Additional Resources • National Center for Missing & Exploited Children • National Center for Missing Adults • Doe Network • ViCAP • Unidentified Decedent Reporting System (UDRS) • 2006 MEOs can enter unidentified cases • Includes photos and details • Limited access to public (visitors) • Medical Examiner web pages • Maricopa County, AZ (Phoenix) • Clark County, NV (Las Vegas) • Los Angeles, CA • Kentucky

47. Special Thank You • John Planz & Steve Gammon, UNTHSC • Harry Carlile, FBI • Heidi Fisher & Patricia Blake, TDPS MPCH • Douglas Hares, FBI Laboratory, CODIS Unit