Summary
In May 1986, a call was received about a fire at 24th and Elm Street in Minneapolis, Minnesota, just east of downtown between I-35W and Highway 280. When fire department officials arrived at the scene, they found a retired railroad boxcar engulfed in flames. The bodies of two individuals were discovered inside of the boxcar, which had caught fire due to a charcoal grill. While one of the individuals was identified, one was not. The unidentified individual was determined to be a white male who stood between 5’6” and 5’10” and weighed between 140 and 150 pounds.
No other identifying characteristics for the man could be determined, and he became known as Hennepin County John Doe. Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP102933. Despite the efforts of investigators, with few leads to go on, the man's identity was unknown after nearly forty years.
In 2023, the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas to determine if advanced DNA testing could help to identify the man. Othram scientists successfully developed a suitable DNA extract from the remains and used Forensic Grade Genome Sequencing® to produce a comprehensive DNA profile for the man. Othram's in-house forensic genetic genealogy team then performed records research and used genetic genealogy to develop new leads in the case.
A follow-up investigation was launched, leading investigators to potential relatives of the man. This investigation led to the identification of Hennepin County John Doe, who is now known to be James R. Wakkinen, born in January of 1947.
A portion of Othram's casework costs associated with the advanced DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy completed in this case was contributed by donors through a DNASolves® crowdfund. We are grateful to everyone that helped crowdfund this case and other DNASolves cases. Remaining casework costs were provided by the Roads to Justice funding program.
The identification of James R. Wakkinen represents the second case in Minnesota where officials have publicly announced the identification of an individual using technology developed by Othram. To read about other Minnesota cases, visit DNASolves.
Michael Vogen
Director of Case Management
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.