Metropolitan Nashville Police Department Teams with Othram to Identify a 2018 John Doe

Summary

In January 2018, the skeletal remains of an unidentified individual were discovered on the top of a cliff of I-24E and Exit 52 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department responded to the scene where they found the remains within a makeshift shelter inside of a sleeping bag. Investigators also determined that the remains were that of a white male between the ages of 40 and 65 years old and stood around 6’3” tall. Based on the investigation at the scene and an examination by a forensic anthropologist, foul play was not suspected in his death.

At the time of the man’s discovery, he was wearing a heavily soiled T-shirt, displaying a logo that read "redefining normal" and "whatever 06," along with black pants, white tube socks with blue stripes, a blue Nike brand button-down jacket, a brown Dickies brand zip-up sweatshirt, and a gray Tony Hawk brand zip-up hooded sweatshirt. In March 2018, details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP17521 and the man became known as Exit 52 John Doe. Despite extensive efforts by law enforcement investigators to identify the man, no matches were found, and the case went cold due to a lack of investigative leads.

In January 2023, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas to determine if advanced DNA testing could help identify the man. Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the forensic evidence, and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive genealogical profile for the unknown man. Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team then used this profile to conduct genetic genealogy research, ultimately providing new investigative leads to law enforcement.

Using this new information, a follow-up investigation was conducted leading investigators to potential relatives of the man. Reference DNA samples were collected from the potential relatives and compared to the DNA profile of the unknown man. This investigation led to the positive identification of the man, who is now known to be Steven Allen Yantz, born October 8, 1953.

The identification of Steven Allen Yantz represents the 16th case in the State of Tennessee where officials have publicly identified an individual using technology developed by Othram. Most recently in Nashville, Tennessee, Donald Elden Verhalen, who fell from a 20 foot high wall, was identified after 31 years.

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.