Summary

In 2024, the St. Petersburg Police Department and the District 6 Medical Examiner’s Office partnered with Othram, a forensic laboratory based in The Woodlands, Texas, to identify a skull that had been separated from other skeletal remains sometime after 1980. Because the skull’s origin and context were unclear, forensic evidence was sent to Othram to determine if advanced DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy could assist in the identification.

Othram scientists developed a DNA extract from the skull and used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile. Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team used the profile to perform genealogical research and generate new investigative leads.

With this information, investigators conducted follow-up inquiries that led them to potential relatives of the unidentified man. KinSNP® Rapid Relationship Testing was then used to compare the comprehensive DNA profile to that of a potential relative. The KinSNP® analysis helped confirm a genetic relationship, leading to the identification of the man as Joseph Richard Murrell, born in 1956.

Murrell died on August 3, 1980, when his car went off the Howard Frankland Bridge. According to news reports at the time, he was decapitated. While all of his remains were initially recovered, it is unclear how or when the skull became separated.

The identification of Joseph Murrell marks the 42nd public case in Florida in which Othram’s technology has helped identify an individual. Visit DNASolves to learn about other Florida cases, where your support can help bring long-awaited answers to families.

Also, by joining the DNASolves database and contributing your DNA profile, you can play a direct role in helping identify the next unknown person and reuniting families with long-awaited answers.