Central Ohio โCold Case Solved: โคMan โฃFound in 1991 Identified Throughโฃ DNA โTechnology
Columbus, OH – After more than threeโฃ decades, the identity of aโ man whose remains โwere discovered in franklin County in 1991 has been confirmed as Ernest Emerson Carter, thanks to advancements in DNA technology and a collaborative effort between local and state agencies.The breakthrough, announced today, brings closure to a decades-old mystery.
Carter’s remains were initially found in 1991, but traditional methods of identification proved unsuccessful. The case was revisited utilizing modern forensicโ techniques, including โคDNA analysis through theโ Ohioโข Bureau of โขCriminal โคInquiry’s (BCI) Project LINK, an initiative comparing โunidentified remains DNA with that of missing persons. These initial searches โyielded no matches.
Further DNA testing conducted by BCI alsoโ failed to generate leads. The Porchlight โคProject, a non-profit organization funding forensic genealogy for families of missingโฃ and murdered individuals,โฃ then โstepped in, providingโ funding forโค testing โby Othram, aโ Texas-based forensics technology company, last year.
Genealogists working with BCI were โคable to build a family treeโ and ultimately identified a male โฃrelative. Subsequent DNA confirmation established the remains asโ thoseโฃ of Ernest Emersonโ Carter. A photograph from โขJune 1948, provided by โthe Ohio Attorney General’s Office, shows Carter second from the left.
“We believe each person isโ worthy of dignity and respect,” Franklin County Coroner Nathan Overmire said in โขa statement. “Our patients โฃcan no longer advocateโค for themselves, โคso โwe must on their behalf.I am โคextremely proud of โthe compassionate, talented staff who โworked on โthis case from โmy office, โฃBCIโฃ and โour community partners. Together, โwe were able to utilize science to solveโข a mystery.”
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost lauded โคthe “public-private partnership” that led to the identification. “Solving a cold case takes teamwork, technology and โtenacity – all of which were on display inโฃ this case,” Yost stated. “This type of public-privateโข partnership has a directโ impact on so many and brings real results to loved ones.”
The identification highlights the growing role of forensic genealogyโ inโข resolving cold cases โand providing answersโค to families โฃwho have long sought closure.