Summary
In May 2015, the remains of an unknown individual were found under a tree next to the Verde River in Camp Verde, a small town south of Sedona in Yavapai County, Arizona. Authorities, including the Yavapai County Office of the Medical Examiner and the Yavapai-Apache Police Department, responded to the scene where they found a man estimated to be between 40 and 75 years old. He was about 5'10" and was wearing clothes including jeans with a 36 inch waist and an alligator-print belt. He was also wearing size 13 Merrell brand hiking boots.
Despite extensive investigative efforts, including publicizing a sketch of what the man may have looked like when he was alive, this individual remained unidentified for almost a decade and he became known as Yavapai County John Doe. The man's case was entered into NamUs as UP52930. 
In 2023, the Yavapai County Medical Examiner once again teamed with Othram to leverage advanced DNA testing to assist in the identification of the unknown man. Forensic evidence was submitted to Othram’s laboratory in The Woodlands, Texas where scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from skeletal remains and used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to develop a comprehensive DNA profile. Othram's in-house forensic genetic genealogy team then used the profile in a genealogical search to generate new investigative leads in the case, including the identification of potential relatives of the unidentified man.
During this investigation, John Doe's potential brother was identified. Unfortuantely, the man's potential brother was killed in a hit and run accident in South Carolina in April 2020. Following the hit and run accident, the Oconee Coroner's Office in Seneca, South Carolina had preserved a dried blood sample from the deceased man's to maintain a record of his identity. The Coroner's office provided a portion of that card to Othram so that KinSNP® Rapid Relationship Testing could be performed.
Using the provided blood card, scientists at Othram were able to build a DNA profile that was compared to the John Doe's DNA profile using Othram's KinSNP® Rapid Relationship Testing. This comparison confirmed a biological relationship and the unidentified man in Arizona is now identified as Michael Wayne Mest, who was born on August 9, 1964. Mest was born and raised in Kentucky and was known to be living in Tucson, AZ in 1999. He was known to be in Camp Verde in 2010 and 2012.
Funding for the advanced DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy used in this case was provided by NamUs, a national clearinghouse that assists the criminal justice community with the investigation and resolution of missing, unidentified, and unclaimed persons cases across the United States and its territories. NamUs is funded and administered by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and is managed through a contract with Research Triangle Institute International. We are grateful for the support of RTI, NamUs, and the NIJ.
The identification of Michael Mest represents the 12th case in the State of Arizona where officials have publicly identified an individual using technology developed by Othram. To read about other cases in Arizona that have been solved, visit DNASolves.
Dan Miller
Director of Customer Service
Dan guides law enforcement agencies across the United States and internationally through every step of the forensic process—from crime scene to courtroom. He ensures investigators have the support and resources they need to navigate advanced DNA testing and maximize the impact of forensic evidence in their cases.