RELATED STORIES
Accident – Death – Obituary News :
The Discovery of the Jawbone in Arizona
Twenty years ago in Arizona, a young boy with a rock collection stumbled upon a jawbone that would later be identified as belonging to a U.S. Marine. The bone piece was given to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office in 2002 after the boy’s parents found it among his rocks.
The Investigation at Ramapo College Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center
After conventional DNA testing yielded no results, the bone was sent to the Ramapo College Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center in New Jersey last year. It was there that researchers were able to positively identify the jawbone as belonging to Captain Everett Leland Yager.
Captain Yager’s Tragic Training Accident
Captain Yager tragically died in a training accident in California over 70 years ago. His remains were collected from the accident scene and returned to his family in Missouri, where he was buried. The discovery of the jawbone in Arizona left many baffled as to how it ended up so far from Yager’s resting place.
The Work of the Ramapo College IGG Center
Cairenn Binder, assistant director of the Ramapo College IGG Center, praised the work of the school’s summer boot camp students in cracking the case. Through genome sequencing and bioinformatics, a genetic profile was created, leading to the positive identification of Captain Yager.
The Closure for Yager’s Family
Yager’s daughter provided a DNA sample last month, confirming the genetic match with the jawbone. The remains will now be returned to Yager’s family, providing closure after decades of uncertainty. This remarkable story showcases the power of genetic genealogy and the dedication of researchers in solving long-standing mysteries.
.