Summary
In August 1992, the remains of an unidentified individual were found by Pittsburgh River Rescue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Pittsburgh Police Department and the Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner responded and began investigating. The remains were determined to be a White man who stood approximately 5' 11" and weighed 175 pounds. The investigation revealed that two men had an altercation near the river. One of the men suffered blunt trauma to the head, falling into the river where he drowned. Police arrested Arthur Wylie, who was later convicted of murder for killing the man. However, the victim went unidentified.
Despite a lengthy investigation, the victim could not be identified and became known as Pittsburgh John Doe (1992). Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP17266.
In 2024, the Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas where it was determined that advanced DNA testing could help identify the man. Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the provided evidence and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the man. Othram's in-house forensic genetic genealogy team used the profile in a forensic search to develop new investigative leads that were returned to law enforcement.
Using this new information, a follow-up investigation was conducted leading investigators to potential relatives of the man. Reference DNA samples were collected from a relative and compared to the DNA profile of the unidentified man. This investigation led to the positive identification of the man, who is now known to be Allan Barry Keener, born February 5, 1940. Keener, who was transient and originally from Kentucky, was 52 when he was killed.
Individuals who have taken a consumer DNA test can aid ongoing forensic investigations by joining the DNASolves database. Expanding the pool of available DNA data increases the likelihood of successful identifications, helping to reunite families with their missing loved ones and resolve cases that have remained unsolved for years.
This is the 13th publicly announced case in the State of Pennsylvania where officials leveraged Othram’s identity inference pipeline. Explore other cases on Othram’s website.
Dan Miller
Director of Customer Service
Dan guides law enforcement agencies across the United States and internationally through every step of the forensic process—from crime scene to courtroom. He ensures investigators have the support and resources they need to navigate advanced DNA testing and maximize the impact of forensic evidence in their cases.