The identity of skeletal remains discovered in Washington has been verified by “advanced” DNA testing.
And as a result, a long-standing enigma has at last been resolved. Read on to find out more.
Clarence Edwin “Ed” Asher went out to crab in Tillamook Bay, Oregon, on September 5, 2006, like he usually did. He never got back to his family.
His wife called the Oregon State Police after he did not return home at the scheduled time of 3 p.m.
The US Coast Guard was immediately called into action to find the 72-year-old who had gone missing. He was the lineman technician for the Fossil Telephone Company and the former mayor of Fossil before retiring and turning into a passionate crabber.
Along with several helicopters, the Coast Guard dispatched two utility boats, a motor lifeboat, and a skiff. According to reports, his 21-foot boat was discovered around 0.5 miles from Garibaldi Marina.
Both of Asher’s three buoys and the boat contained live crab. However, no life jackets were discovered by the authorities. His wife retorted that he couldn’t swim and would never put on the life jacket.
Asher was thought to have fallen overboard, but the Coast Guard opted to halt its search the following day after 11 hours. Since it was assumed that Asher had drowned, on October 14, 2006, a memorial service and obituary were performed in his honor.
Skeletal bones were discovered on a beach near the community of Taholah on the Quinault Indian Reservation in Grays Harbor County, Washington, in November of that same year.
The remains were identified by the Grays Harbor County Coroner’s Office and the Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office as belonging to an adult male between the ages of 20 and 60. According to estimates, he weighed between 170 and 180 pounds and stood approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall.
The man became known as the Grays Harbor County John Doe as he could not be identified.
Scientists at Othram in The Woodlands, Texas, presented evidence to the King County Medical Examiner and the Grays Harbor County Coroner’s Office last year.
The remains were subjected to sophisticated DNA testing known as Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing, which allowed scientists to create a thorough DNA profile.
After the report was examined by genealogical specialists, it was determined that the remains belonged to Edwin Asher.
“Governor Ferguson, Attorney General Nick Brown, and the Washington State Legislature made critical funding to enable forensic genetic genealogy testing in this case,” said the people responsible for unraveling the riddle. We appreciate their help in giving this grant.
Additionally, they urged others to sign up for their database so they might assist in solving future crimes. People who have taken a consumer DNA test can participate in ongoing forensic investigations by adding their information to the DNASolves database, they stated. Increasing the amount of DNA data that is accessible raises the possibility of successful identifications, assisting in the resolution of long-standing unsolved cases and the reunion of families with their missing loved ones.
Hopefully, Edwin Asher’s family will feel closer and more at ease now that the mystery has been answered after all these years. Tell others about this.
