Summary
On April 28, 1978, skeletal remains of an unidentified individual were recovered at Patagonia Lake State Park in Santa Cruz County, Arizona. Investigators determined the remains belonged to young adult male, likely between the ages of 18 and 24 years old. Clothing recovered along with the remains included denim cut-off shorts with a "Made in Canada" tag, white Jockey-brand shorts, dark-colored socks, and ankle-high walking boots. Investigators determined that the man died by drowning.
No identification was found and, because of the condition of the remains, there was no way to identify the man at the time. Despite investigative efforts, the man could not be identified and became known as Santa Cruz County John Doe (1978). Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP15744.
In August 2024, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office, working with the Pima County Medical Examiner's Office, submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas. Scientists at Othram 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.
Using this new information, a follow-up investigation was conducted leading investigators to potential relatives of the man. A DNA sample was collected from a relative and compared to the profile of the John Doe using Othram's KinSNP® rapid relationship testing. This investigation led to the positive identification of the man, who is now known to be David Alan McInroy. McInroy, born on October 13, 1952, was from Ontario, Canada.
Othram's casework costs were paid by NamUs, a national program 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.
This is the 19th publicly announced case in the State of Arizona where officials leveraged Othram's identity inference pipeline. To learn about other cases, visit Othram's website.
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.