NORTH TEXAS--They've been missing for years, but the DNA labs of University North Texas are working to unlock the mystery. Jen French took a look behind the scenes on how lab workers identify human remains. Some people though, haven't been found.
September 12, 2009 71-year-old Katie Jo Brewer was reported missing. She was last seen in Bonham, TX. 82-year-old Una Mae Herd was last seen in Sherman on June 25, 2009. Law enforcement has yet to uncover either of their whereabouts.
Eddy Ball was reported missing on August 13, 2010. In April 2011, his family finally got an answer. The UNT Center for Human Identification matched his DNA.
"We get approximately 47 cases, per month on average. For family references, we get a little more than that. We get about 100 cases per month," Dixie Peters said, Technical Leader for the UNT Center for Human Identification.
The UNT Center for Human Identification has helped identify nearly 600 missing persons. According to recent estimates, more than 14,000 missing persons nationwide are still unidentified.
"We realize that every case that we process represents a waiting family-- a family who's waiting to hear what may or may not have happened to their loved ones," Peters said. "It does take a little bit more than a couple of days. More or less it takes a couple of months in order to be able to try to get a profile from remains."
The average wait time is 60 to 80 days.
There are four federal databases that are vital tools in helping find missing persons.
"Certainly people can be identified using visual methods." Peters said. "They can be identified using dental and finger prints," Peters said.
When it comes to DNA, CODIS, or the Combined DNA Index System for Missing Persons, was created by the FBI in 2000. It includes DNA data obtained from unidentified remains and the relatives of missing persons.
"We try to use things like toothbrushes, envelopes, those type of things. We also use any medical biopsy samples, tissue slides that were obtained and saved in a hospital," Peters said. "So, it really depends on the investigation itself. They could be remains where an investigator has no idea who those remains belong to, and so they just send them to us hoping that one day there might be an association with family references."
When human remains are left in the open, they're subject to the elements.
"Heat, sun, water. Even being burned," Peters said. "Those types of things will destroy DNA."
Family members can allow law enforcement to collect their DNA to be submitted to CODIS.
"A person may not have any children, or their parents may be deceased," Peters said. "In that case, we have to rely on aunts and uncles and cousins, whatever we have available."
After a DNA test, Eddy Ball's family finally learned where he was in April 2011. The case is still open. Law enforcement has not determined the cause of his death.
"I don't think that they caught whoever did this and I hope they do," Cassandra Ball said, Eddy Ball's daughter.
Katie Jo Brewer has been missing since 9/12/2009. Currently, there is not a DNA reference in CODIS for her.
UNT has a DNA reference for Una Mae Herd, but more than 5 years later, she is still missing.
"I can only imagine just how tragic that it must feel not knowing where your loved one is and constantly be looking in the crowds for them," Peters said.
That's what the UNT Center for Human Identification is there for--to help families unlock the mystery.
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