PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Arizona has one of the highest numbers of unidentified remains in the country. Out of the 15,460 open cases for unidentified persons nationwide, 2,132 are in Arizona, according to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System.
“Everybody deserves to keep their name even in death,” said Stuart Somershoe, a retired detective from the Phoenix Police Department.
He said the state’s location, which borders Mexico, and the environment play a role in adding to the numbers.
“Some are homicide victims, some are suicide victims, some are unknown deaths,” said Somershoe, who has spent years helping to give names back to the unidentified. “The desert conditions tend to cause remains to skeletal very quickly here in Arizona.”
The Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner tracks their cases online. Currently, 233 individuals need their identities restored, with some cases dating back more than 50 years.
According to Somershoe, there are three key areas that detectives investigate when it comes to unidentified remains: fingerprints, dental records, and DNA.
One group that’s seen success using DNA technology is the DNA Doe Project. Last year, Arizona’s Family reported on how the organization used forensic genealogy to identify Evelyn “Dottie” Lees, a woman who remained a mystery for decades.
“With forensic genealogy, they take a DNA profile of an unidentified victim and they compare it to family tree genealogy websites,” said Somershoe.
Someshoe said that in many of these cases, the people are loved ones whose families don’t realize they are gone.
He urges people to always check in on family, distant relatives, and even friends. If you haven’t heard from them in a while, file a missing person’s report. It’s never too late to do so.
To see unidentified cases in Maricopa County, click/tap here.
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