The Missing Piece Episode 5: Darrell Splett (McHenry County John Doe)

Hikers in the Rush Creek Conservation Area of Harvard, Illinois discovered a body near the Rush Creek Trails in May 2019. The McHenry County Conservation Police responded to the scene and discovered the remains of a middle-aged white man. He was clothed in winter attire including multiple layers, a hat, hand-knitted scarf, and gloves.

The McHenry County Coroner’s Office attempted to identify the unknown man using fingerprintsFingerprint, impression made by the papillary ridges on the ends of the fingers and thumbs. Fingerprints afford an infallible means of personal identification, because the ridge arrangement on every finger of every human being is Read Full Definition, dental records, and CODIS testing, but traditional approaches were unsuccessful in producing any identifying information. Investigators then coordinated with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Forensic Imaging Unit to complete a digital facial reconstructionFacial approximation refers to the process of estimating the living facial image of a person from the evidence presented by a recovered skull. Read Full Definition with digital technology. They shared his digital photograph in the hopes that someone might recognize him.

In May 2020, the McHenry County Coroner’s Office partnered with Othram to develop new leads in the case. Skeletal remains were sent to Othram and 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 was built using Forensic-Grade GenomeA 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®. An investigative lead was returned to Chief Deputy Coroner, Olivia Zednick. Together, her team and Othram confirmed the identity of the unknown man, enabling his return to family.