Hartford Police Department & Connecticut Office of Chief Medical Examiner Team with Othram to Identify a 2005 John Doe

Investigators are working to identify a man whose remains were discovered two decades ago floating in the Connecticut River in Hartford, Connecticut.

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Published March 21, 2025 by Michael Vogen
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Highlights

Media Inquiries

Summary

In March 2005, the remains of an unidentified individual were discovered floating in the Connecticut River near Riverside Park Boat Launch in Hartford, Connecticut. Hartford is the state capital the Connecticut River runs through it. Investigators responded to the scene and determined the remains were an adult white male with brown eyes and partially gray hair. At the time of the man’s discovery, he was wearing size 32x34 jeans, a pair of boots, a pair of athletic socks, two long sleeve shirts, and three heavyweight pullover sweaters.

After the remains were recovered, details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP53044. Despite exhaustive efforts by investigators, the man's identity remains a mystery.

In 2024, the Hartford Police Department, in collaboration with the Connecticut Office of Chief Medical Examiner, teamed with Othram to determine if advanced DNA testing can help to determine the identity of the man. Forensic evidence was sent to Othram's laboratory in The Woodlands, Texas where Othram scientists will develop a DNA extract and then use Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the unknown man. Othram's in-house forensic genetic genealogy team will use the profile in a genetic genealogy search to develop new investigative leads to be returned to investigators. Anyone with information that could aid in the investigation is encouraged to contact the Hartford Police Department by calling 203-509-7687 and referencing agency case number 05-04191.

A DNASolves crowdfund has been established to cover the casework costs. Anyone can contribute here.

Your support can make a difference in identifying this individual and reconnecting him with his family. Please consider donating to the DNASolves fund to help cover the costs of advanced DNA testing. Additionally, if you have taken a consumer DNA test, you can contribute by opting into forensic genetic genealogy matching to assist in solving this case and others like it.

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Michael Vogen

Michael Vogen

Director of Case Management

832-906-4247
2829 Technology Forest Blvd Suite 100, The Woodlands, Texas 77381
media@othram.com

Michael works with law enforcement agencies throughout the United States and Canada on “unsolvable“ cases that can benefit from advanced DNA testing methods. He helps these agencies use cutting edge DNA sequencing and new forensic techniques to develop investigative leads for their cases.

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About Othram Inc.

Othram is the world’s first private DNA laboratory built specifically to apply the power of modern parallel sequencing to forensic evidence. Othram’s scientists are experts at ... Read morerecovery, enrichment, and analysis of human DNA from trace quantities of degraded or contaminated materials. Founded in 2018, and located in The Woodlands, Texas, our team works with academic researchers, forensic scientists, medical examiners, and law enforcement agencies to achieve results when other approaches have failed. Follow Othram on Twitter @OthramTech or visit Othram.com to learn how we can help you with your case. With dnasolves.com anyone can make a difference and help solve the next cold case.