Summary

In May 2020, the skeletal remains of an unknown individual were discovered in a wooded area in the 200 block of Overbrook Drive in South Knoxville, a section of Knoxville, Tennessee that lies south of the Tennessee River. Several law enforcement agencies responded, including the Knoxville Police Department, which contacted the Knox County Regional Forensic Center and they began investigating and collecting evidence to try to determine the person's identity.

The remains were sent to the Knox County Regional Forensic Center, where forensic experts determined that the individual was a man who was likely between the ages of 55 and 70. He stood between 5'5" and 5'8" tall. He was found with several pieces of clothing including a pair of windbreaker pants, a pair of dark dress pants and a pair of Wrangler brand jeans. He had a navy zip-up hoodie, a remnant of a glove with a John Deere logo and a wallet with torn and degraded paper and a Big Lots logo. Multiple missing persons reports were compared for potential matches over the next five years. Despite extensive efforts by law enforcement investigators to identify the man, no matches were found, and the case went cold. The details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP71379.

The Knox County Regional Forensic Center submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas to determine if 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 genetic genealogy 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 in Michigan. Knox County Regional Forensic Center death investigators made contact with those relatives, who stated they had not seen the man in 22 years. Reference DNA samples were collected from a relative and compared to the DNA profile of the unidentified man using KinSNP® Rapid Relationship Testing. This investigation led to the positive identification of the man, who is now known to be Gerald John Forsman. Gerald Forsman was originally from Livonia, Michigan and apparently lived in Knoxville, according to public records. It is unclear when he disappeared.

Forensic genetic genealogical testing on this case was made possible as a result of U.S. Congressman Tim Burchett’s 2024 Community Project Funding request through the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Knox County Regional Forensic center is grateful to all the agencies listed that assisted in identifying Mr. Forsman. This is the eighth cold case identity solved from this initiative.

Individuals who have taken a consumer DNA test can aid ongoing forensic investigations by joining the DNASolves database. Expanding the number of available DNA profiles increases the likelihood of successful identifications, helping to reunite families with their missing loved ones and resolve cases that have remained unanswered for years.

The identification of Gerald Forsman represents the 26th case in the State of Tennessee where officials have publicly identified an individual using technology developed by Othram. Visit DNASolves to learn about other Tennessee cases where your support can help bring long-awaited answers to families.