Update - South Carolina

An updated news stiry was released today with an additional arrest of an alleged offender.

http://www2.scnow.com/scp/news/local/pee_dee/article/stepson_charged_in_missing_florence_county_mans_death/91213/

Identified - Randy Delyn Bratschi of South Carolina

7 December 2009: All across the United States local and state agencies move to take advantage of the advanced technologies at the UNT Center for Human Identification. The family now has answers where there was no hope of resolution with options fading quickly. Again, dedicated law enforcement officers never gave up and reached across the country for assistance.

http://www2.scnow.com/scp/news/local/pee_dee/article/florence_county_mans_remains_idd_widow_arrested/90920/

Identified - Marcella Bachmann: Washington State to Montana

The story of Marcella Bachmann is key to bring hope for all families fearing their lost member may be among the thousands of unidentified deceased in our country. Marcella Bachmann was one of those "runaways" who did not have a current record in NCIC. Current validated DNA technology at the time would not allow DNA analysis to produce enough markers to produce a viable DNA profile to be searched in the database. There was no hope for Marcella and her family for over two decades. The attached link tells the story of Marcella Bachmann's identification which was affected through the coopeation of dedicated law enforcement officers and the UNT Center for Human Identification, both of who exist only to serve their communities. It was a pleasure to work with Jessica Sachs for months on this major article to open doors for her to those inspiring individuals who made this first of its kind watershed case for human identification in the United States a possibility.

http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2009-01/anatomy-serial-killer

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Applied+Biosystems+Advances+Forensic+Science+with+the+World

Training - For What Purpose Does DNA Exist in Nature

As we try to understand DNA’s role as what some say is the “Gold Standard” in human identification, we need to build a foundation upon which to learn. So, let’s start with seeing if we can make sense of it all with learning why DNA exists in the first place. Our learning will be conceptually driven, built upon a central knowledge base common to all of us.

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is nature’s greatest communicator, and it is for this purpose that DNA exists. Each of us is made up of trillions of cells. Each cell has many parts of various types (organelles, nucleus, etc.). Human DNA is the mechanism which is the basis for communication within the cell and with its neighboring cells in our bodies. Please develop the concept of a DNA strand as nature’s own policy and procedure manual just like the one you have at work or the general orders of your agency. Half of the manual (nuclear DNA) is contributed by our mother and the other half by our father. Every cell has a complete copy of the manual/orders (DNA) for all cells regardless of the cell’s individual function within our body. The manual (DNA) is complete and does not change from conception to the time our bodies are returned to nature’s care. Each cell guards DNA against damage, contamination, and changes. If a cell finds damaged DNA it cannot handle, the cell will send a message to neighboring cells that it is having trouble. This DNA “policy and procedure” manual is well organized and has a consistent language common to all human DNA. This DNA “policy and procedure manual” is what makes us unique as “individuals”. Because of the uniqueness and consistency of our DNA, DNA has become known as the “Gold Standard” in human identification.

Some scientist and analysts will be quite upset with my simplest presentations. I am just a common working person like you who desires to love my family and serve my community by understanding DNA and its ability to serve our needs. Our next session will be to understand DNA’s language. Believe me it is not hard.

http://www.triple-c.at/index.php/tripleC/article/viewArticle/126
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/157427.php

Training - Why is DNA Important in Human Identification

5 December 2009 - The training presented here will be short and directed toward those who have never had a science course and communicate in every day language. If you have a question, you may e-mail untcenterforhumanid@yahoo.com . The questions along with daily events will help direct which topics are covered. When ever possible a public source information link will be provided which highlights the subject matter for educational purposes. So, why is DNA analysis so important in human identification:

There is and continues to be case after case worked by investigators often for decades where assumptions/events have directed the investigation off course. In this process thousand of man hours and untold amount of financial resources have been spent without ever a chance of resoultion while the family continues to be re-victimized daily. Presentations have been made at various conferences of the first sixteen Texas missing person cold hits ( cold hit: no investigative connection between the missing person and the remains of the deceased ) made through the center in which circumstances or expert opinions directed the investigation off course in up to thirty-one percent of those cases. Granted 31% is a very high number, but it is very reflective of the mire in which investigators often find themselves. All the time, we see cases that come to investigators where information related to the deceased was inaccurate - sex, age, identification documentation found on the body, dental, and dates of last contact. When we look at an NCIC (National Crime Information Center) record or investigaive hit releated to a unidentified deceased person, the information must be taken with a grain of salt. The missing person investigator often may not know who provided the opinion/information, the qualifications of the individual, or the circumstances under which the unidentified deceased was found. Any good investigator will realize that circumstances and past experience will bias his/her view of the case. Therefore, he/she will question each and every one of his/her conclusions or piece of evidence related to the case. Now, let's allow the actual experiences of others teach us. Two excellent cases are presented in the following links to help you learn.

The story which still attracts international interest begins on page twenty-two and written by the prosecutor:
http://www.tdcaa.com/files/newsletter/SO05Prosecutor.pdf

The family waited over four decades for an answer:
http://www.baldonart.com/glaze.html

International - Center for Human Identification Joins The Fight Aginst Human Trafficking of Children

10 November 2009 - UNT Center for Human Identification joins the international fight against human trafficking of children in coordination with the University of Granada (Spain). The following press release gives us a good picture as to the extent of the of the problem.

http://www.physorg.com/wire-news/19326421/geneticists-coordinate-action-to-fight-against-traffic-in-human.html

International - Three of 126 Bodies from Chile’s Infamous Patio 29 Cemetery Identified

4 December 2009: DNA testing completed at the UNT Center for Human Identification resolved the identities of three of the deceased from among 126 bodies buried in unmarked graves of Chile’s infamous Patio 29 General Cemetery.

http://www.santiagotimes.cl/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=17778:three-bodies-identified-from-chiles-infamous-patio-29-&catid=43:human-rights&Itemid=39

Identified - Shawn Reilly

We can only imagine what the family feels during the search, investigation, and trial. Nothing could be more rewarding for all involved as receiving a letter as the following:


Dear Mr. Adams,

I just want to tell you how much your office’s work means to me, my sisters, our husbands, children, and extended family. Also on behalf of our parents, who are no longer here; but I am sure they appreciate your efforts, as well.

My sister Michelle and I were in court during the trial last week, and it was so comforting to see the people who worked so hard to identify my brother’s remains.

My brother, Shawn, was an amazing and special person who ended up in the company of the wrong, and the worst, people. What our family has gone through is almost the worst you can imagine—wondering where Shawn was, hoping the remains were not his. The only thing worse is the terrible thought of not knowing where my brother is now. I wish he was here next to me, laughing and smiling, but unfortunately that is no longer possible. What your office did to identify my brother and allow us to bring his remains home is something I can never repay or express enough gratitude for. It really scares me to think we could be in a completely different place right now.

We feel badly because we put so much pressure—sometimes daily—on Investigator Yarbrough to give us some answers from August through March, and he tried his best to keep us calm. I didn’t realize how much work and time it takes to identify someone, and I am now happy that your office took every day and every minute they needed to get it done properly.

Please pass my thoughts on to those involved and let them know their work is important and invaluable. I am attaching a photo of Shawn so maybe you and they can have a nicer image of him.

Melody Reilly
http://www.tdcaa.com/node/4184
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/journals/256/missing-persons.html

Identified - Melissa Davis Reeves

A nice thank you from a family who has had a family member identified:

"I would like to again say Thank You to your organization. My sister, Melissa Davis Reeves was identified by your group. She went missing in 1998, over the course of the next 8 years a body was found in a shallow grave, my mom sent in DNA and there was a match. It turned out that the body found was in fact my sister. I doubt my family will ever find out what happened to her but thanks to you and your group/organization we were able to bring her home and give her the proper funeral services.
Thanks
Barbara Brown
http://www.virtual-memorials.com/main.php?action=view&mem_id=5649&page_no=1 "

Identified - Alice Donovan - South Carolina

South Carolina send these type case to UNTCHI because they do not have the technology work the case.

http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=11491413