Summary
In February of 2024, the partial skeletal remains of an unidentified individual were found in a desert area in Sacaton, a small town in Pinal County, Arizona. The Gila River Police Department and the Pinal County Medical Examiner's Office responded and began investigating and collecting evidence. Investigators determined that the remains belonged to an adult man between the ages of 18 to 70 years old whose ancestry could not be definitively determined. Investigators believe the man died sometime in the preceding three to five years. Despite a lengthy investigation, the man could not be identified and became known as Sacaton John Doe. Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP117598.
As part of Operation Spirit Return, the Bureau of Indian Affairs Missing and Murdered Unit and the Pinal County Medical Examiner's Office submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas in December of 2024 where scientists determined that advanced DNA testing could help to identify the man. At Othram, scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the provided evidence and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the man. Othram's in-house forensic genetic genealogy team used the profile in a genetic genealogy search to develop new investigative leads that were returned to law enforcement.
During the course of this investigation, investigators received a lead that positively identified the man who is now known to be Glenn Thomas Tate, Jr. When he was last seen on July 22, 2020, Tate was 35 years old. At the time, he was seeking medical treatment from a medical facility on the Gila River Indian Reservation. Tate was enrolled with the Gila River Indian Community of the Gila River Indian Reservation, as well as with the White Mountain Apache Tribe of the Fort Apache Reservation. He was reported missing and his name was entered into NamUs as MP116130.
Operation Spirit Return, launched by the BIA Office of Justice Services and handled by the BIA-OJS’s Missing and Murdered Unit, seeks to identify unknown human remains that have been located within or close to Indian country and that are believed to belong to either American Indian or Alaska Native persons.
The identification of Glenn Tate represents the 15th case in the State of Arizona where officials have publicly identified an individual using technology developed by Othram. Visit DNASolves to learn about other Arizona cases where your support can help bring long-awaited answers to families.
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.