Description:
On April 18, 1998, a fisherman discovered the decomposing body of an adult Caucasian man in the Susquehanna River near Turkey Point in Lancaster, PA. The John Doe was estimated to be 6’1” tall and 260 pounds. His age could not be determined. The letter “R” was tattooed on his right shoulder. No clothing or personal effects were found with the body, and authorities could find no evidence of trauma. The man was believed to have been deceased for approximately two weeks.
NamUs ID:
UP10166
Date Body Found:
April 18, 1998
Race:
Caucasian/White
Sex:
Male
Estimated Age:
18-99
Estimated PMI:
Weeks
Lancaster County Coroner and DNA Doe Project Identify 1998 John Doe
Missing Harrisburg man matched to unidentified remains
Lancaster County, PA – The body of a man recovered from the Susquehanna River in April, 1998 has been positively identified as James Floyd Gibson of Harrisburg. Gibson had last been seen in February of the same year.
James Floyd Gibson
In 2023, the Lancaster County Coroner’s Office engaged the DNA Doe Project to use investigative genetic genealogy to attempt identification of the man after 25 years. A DNA profile was developed, and volunteer investigative genetic genealogists began the painstaking process of building the John Doe’s family tree in January of this year. By mid-March, they had traced his connection to two distant cousins and located his branch of the family tree, leading them to his missing persons record in the NamUS.gov database.
When his remains were recovered in 1998, investigators believed he was Caucasian. They noted significant post-mortem changes in the body that made identification extremely difficult.
“Estimating the ancestry of human remains is often complex, and this case illustrates how investigative genetic genealogy can support investigations by offering more accurate estimates through DNA analysis of unidentified individuals,” said DNA Doe Project Team Leader Tracie Boyle. “We are honored to have contributed to the identification of James Gibson, providing his family with much-needed answers.”
The DNA Doe Project is grateful to the groups and individuals who helped resolve this case: the Lancaster County Coroner’s Office, who entrusted the case to the DNA Doe Project; Astrea Forensics for extraction of DNA from a tooth, sample prep, and whole-genome sequencing; Kevin Lord for bioinformatics; GEDmatch Pro and FTDNA for providing their databases; and DDP’s dedicated teams of volunteer investigative genetic genealogists who work tirelessly to bring all our Jane and John Does home.
Agency of Jurisdiction:
Lancaster County Coroners Office
Richard Graff, DDS (Death Investigator)
717-735-2123
[email protected]
More Information:
https://www.abc27.com/local-news/body-pulled-from-susquehanna-river-in-1990s-cold-case-identified/
https://counteverymystery.blogspot.com/2019/04/
https://www.wgal.com/article/police-try-to-identify-body-found-in-1998/6225666
Status:
Identified
Image Credit:
FBI Reconstruction
Last Updated: July 3, 2024
