Summary

In September 2022, the remains of an unidentified individual were located in rural Georgetown County, South Carolina. The discovery was made in a wooded area off of Kent Road. An investigation was launched, where it was determined that the remains were that of a White male whose identity could not be determined. Officials attempted to identify the man using traditional DNA testing. Despite their attempts, with no match to a known individual, the man’s identity was a mystery.

In 2023, the Georgetown County Coroner's Office submitted forensic evidence to Othram’s laboratory in The Woodlands, Texas in hopes that advanced DNA testing could lead to the identification of the man. Despite previous failed attempts, Othram’s scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the remains. Scientists then used Forensic Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the unknown man. During the course of the investigation, an individual who was believed to be a relative of the man provided a DNA sample.

The relative’s DNA profile was compared to the John Doe’s DNA profile using Othram’s KinSNP® Rapid Relationship Testing. This comparison confirmed the identity of the man as Harry Lee Woodruff, III, who was born in February of 1993. In early 2020, Woodruff’s mother reported him missing from their home near Six Mile Crossing, a short distance from where his remains were found in September of 2022. Woodruff was 26 years old at the time.

The identification of Harry Woodruff, III marks the sixth case in South Carolina where officials have publicly identified an individual using technology developed by Othram. To read about other cases in South Carolina, visit DNASolves.