Summary

In March 2002, a worker conducting an environmental survey discovered skeletal remains in a thicket off a paved alley, across the street from Carraway Methodist Medical Center in Birmingham, Alabama. The remains were found with a pair of Levi’s 550 Relaxed Fit denim jeans (size 32Wx30L), a thin reddish leather belt with a silver metal buckle, Arizona Jean Company underwear, a medium silk shirt with an aqua and maroon geometric design, and white socks—but no shoes. Coins found in the jeans pocket dated from 1970 to 1999. A news report at the time noted that the man was missing several teeth and wore a partial dental plate. Despite these details, traditional identification methods failed to determine his identity, leaving the case unsolved.

In 2022, the Jefferson County Medical Examiner’s Office partnered with Othram to explore whether advanced DNA testing could help identify the man. Forensic evidence was sent to Othram’s laboratory in The Woodlands, Texas, where scientists used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to develop a comprehensive DNA profile. This profile was then used by Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team to generate new investigative leads, which were returned to law enforcement for follow-up.

Investigators used this information to locate potential relatives of the unknown man. A reference DNA sample was collected from one of the relatives and compared to the unidentified man’s DNA profile using KinSNP® rapid relationship testing. This analysis ultimately led to a positive identification: the remains belonged to Darrell Moneyham, who had disappeared on July 6, 1999, at the age of 38.

Moneyham’s information had been entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) in 2010 under case number MP4787. He was last seen on July 6, 1999, in the Birmingham area, leaving home for a quick trip to the store—but he never returned. His wife reported him missing shortly thereafter. An investigation into Darrell Moneyham’s death remains ongoing.

Funding for the advanced DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy used in this case was provided by NamUs, a national program that assists the criminal justice community with the investigation and resolution of missing, unidentified, and unclaimed persons cases across the United States and its territories. NamUs is funded and administered by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and is managed through a contract with Research Triangle Institute International. We are grateful for the support of RTI, NamUs, and the NIJ.

The identification of Darrell Moneyham is the 4th publicly announced case in Alabama where investigators used technology developed by Othram to identify an individual. To learn more about other cases in Alabama, visit DNASolves.