As noted by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost during the press conference, DNA may be useful if the unknown individual has committed a crime, as the DNA will most likely be available on a criminal database and can be matched with a sample. However, a person who is not in the crime database cannot be identified, and that was the case with John Doe.
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In 2021, doctors decided to use genetic genealogy to identify the unknown individual. The process involves creating a family tree and determining the biological relationships of the individuals based on their DNA. DNA results combined with genealogical techniques result in solid conclusions, and the method has been used in different cases, such as solving crimes and identifying biological parents of adoptees (via the Library of Congress). AdvanceDNA, a company that specializes in forensic genetic research, built a database using the unidentified man’s DNA. The family tree consisted of more than 4,000 individuals that came from different parts of the U.S., as well as England. The list was narrowed down using a multi-step verification process, and after more than 30 years, the unknown male was finally given a name.
