Summary
In April 2021, the skeletal remains of an unidentified individual were discovered by a group of friends hunting for mushrooms in a wooded area just west of the city of Salina in Saline County, Kansas. As they walked between the railroad track and a creek, the group came across the remains and called local law enforcement. During the investigation, more remains were found along with a dilapidated tent, which looked like it had been left over from the winter season. A search of the area was completed by members of the Saline County Sheriff’s Office along with cadaver dogs and their handlers. No other remains were found.
The individual's remains were submitted to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation for possible identification using traditional DNA testing. The remains were also submitted to an anthropologist at Wichita State University in hopes that other details could be estimated about the individual. Investigators determined that the remains were likely that of a male and the time between the man's death and the discovery of his remains was about one year.
In 2024, the Saline County Sheriff’s Office teamed with Othram in hopes that advanced forensic DNA testing could help establish an identity for the man or a close relative. Forensic evidence was submitted to Othram's laboratory in The Woodlands, Texas where Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the unknown man. Othram's in-house forensic genetic genealogy team then used the profile in a genetic genealogy search to develop new investigative leads that were returned to investigators.
Using these new leads, a follow-up investigation was conducted, leading to possible relatives of the man. This investigation led to the identification of the man as Kenneth Frances Reitchek, born in 1950, who was reported missing in Salina in November 2019. A Silver Alert was issued for Kenneth, and several searches and community efforts were conducted to help locate him.
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.
The identification of Kenneth Frances Reitchek represents the fourth publicly announced case in the State of Kansas where investigators utilized technology developed by Othram to identify an individual. To read about other 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.