The Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office is working to solve the mysteries behind 58 unidentified human remains, leveraging advanced DNA testing technology to bring closure to families who have long awaited answers. These remains, some dating back decades, represent individuals who died without identification or next of kin to claim them.
With the help of a $50,000 grant from Texas-based cold case resolution company Othram, five cases involving children and teens have been prioritized for testing. Forensic pathologists and investigators hope the breakthrough technology will attach names to these remains and potentially reunite them with their families.
The Cases Under Investigation
The five cases sent to Othram for testing include:
- A partial skeleton of a teenager found near Keehi Lagoon in 2002.
- Remains of a 7- to 10-year-old boy discovered in Waianae in 2000.
- Six severed fingers of a girl under the age of 4, found in Honolulu in 2012.
- Skeletal remains of an adolescent discovered inside a vase purchased in Honolulu in 2015.
- A case connected to a 2014 homicide, which remains confidential due to the ongoing investigation.
These cases were selected for their potential for identification using forensic genetic genealogy, a technology that combines DNA analysis with genealogy research to establish familial connections.
Challenges in Identification
Honolulu’s unidentified cases span decades, with some dating as far back as 1966. Many involve skeletal remains found at construction sites or in remote locations. Others include individuals whose bodies were physically intact but lacked identification. Forensic pathologists often face hurdles due to the degraded condition of remains or a lack of comprehensive DNA databases.
One example is a woman struck by a car in 2016, described as between 50 and 75 years old and of Asian or mixed Asian ancestry. Despite DNA, fingerprint, and FBI database searches, her identity remains unknown.
Additionally, some remains may belong to missing children, hikers, or people experiencing homelessness, whose families may still be searching for answers.
The Role of Forensic Genetic Genealogy
Forensic genetic genealogy has proven instrumental in solving cold cases nationwide, including high-profile crimes like identifying the Golden State Killer and other long-unsolved homicides. The method allows investigators to analyze DNA and connect it to relatives, constructing family trees that lead to identification.
Othram has already helped Honolulu identify remains in one case: skeletal remains discovered in Manoa in 2010 were confirmed in July 2024 to belong to William Hans Holling Jr., a man from Washington state who went missing in 1985.
Ongoing Efforts and Future Goals
Charlotte Carter, a medicolegal investigator with the Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office, is committed to solving more of these cases, though funding remains a significant obstacle. Each case costs approximately $10,000 for testing, and current resources limit the office to submitting around five cases annually for advanced analysis.
“I just think everybody deserves a name, and their family deserves an answer,” Carter said. “We have a lot of families who are out there wondering what happened to somebody they love.”
Carter hopes that as technology advances and becomes more affordable, it will pave the way for resolving more cases. She also emphasizes the importance of providing closure to families who have spent years in uncertainty, saying, “It’s about giving people their identity back and helping their families find peace.”
A Path Toward Resolution
The efforts in Honolulu highlight the growing potential of forensic genetic genealogy in addressing the backlog of unidentified remains. As these technologies continue to evolve, they may unlock answers for more families, ensuring that every individual, no matter how long they’ve been nameless, is given the dignity of recognition and remembrance.
