Genetic Genealogy This Month – September 2021: Forensic Breakthroughs

Genealogy Gives Name Back to Remains Found in 1982

In 1982 human remains were found in the woods off Deshong Drive, in unincorporated Stone Mountain. A female skull was collected along with some physical evidenceEvidence is any form of proof, such as objects, materials, or scientific findings, presented to establish or disprove a fact in a legal proceeding. It is used to reconstruct events and link or exclude individuals Read Full Definition at the scene. At the time, it was believed the remains had been out there for 6-10 years. Detectives were not able to identify the victim.

In March 2021, after exhausting all available leads, Detective Dorminy in the Gwinnett Homicide Unit shipped the unidentified victim’s skull to Othram to have them generate a DNADNA, or Deoxyribonucleic Acid, is the genetic material found in cells, composed of a double helix structure. It serves as the genetic blueprint for all living organisms. Read Full Definition profile. Othram used Forensic-Grade Genome A genome is the complete set of an organism's genetic material, while genomics is the study of genomes, investigating their evolution, structure, and function. Read Full Definition Sequencing to build a comprehensive genealogy profile from the aged and degraded skeletal remains of the unidentified victim. The Othram genealogy team then returned investigative leads back to Dorminy, which enabled him to connect the unidentified victim to a candidate daughter, Janis Adams. Dorminy contacted Janis Adams who identified her mother as Marlene Standridge. On Aug. 25, 2021, Janis Adams, her friend Jody Mallonee, her cousin Chamberlain Standridge, and her uncle Stanley Standridge (Marlene’s brother) came to Gwinnett Police Headquarters to speak with Dorminy. At that meeting, a DNA sample was obtained from Janis Adams to confirm the DNA results were a match.

In September, Othram used KinSNP rapid familial testing to confirm that Janis Adams was in fact, a parent-child relationship match to Marlene Standridge. Decades after the inital discovery of the remains, Gwinnett Homicide Detectives continue to look for innovative technologies and new information to assist them in cases to help bring closure to victim’s families who have spent decades not knowing what happened to their loved ones. Othram was honored to assist in the investigation and is grateful to be able to help return answers to the family.

Source: DNASolves/Othram.