Ramapo College Solves 73-Year-Old Mystery of WWII Veteran's Death

Ramapo College's Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) Center has identified the jawbone of U.S. Marine Corps Captain Everett Leland Yager, solving the 73-year-old mystery of his death in a 1951 military training exercise plane crash in California. The jawbone was found years later in a child's rock collection in Arizona, far from where Yager's remains were believed to have been recovered and buried in Missouri.

The Yavapai County Sheriff's Office and medical examiner brought the puzzling case to Ramapo College, where the IGG Center's researchers used advanced DNA testing and family history research to identify the jawbone as belonging to Yager. "The case was initially considered a long shot," said Dr. Edward Hsu, director of the IGG Center. "But a student theorized that the jawbone belonged to Yager, and the DNA evidence later confirmed the match with Yager's daughter."

Ethan Schwartz, a high school student intern at the IGG Center, is believed to be the youngest person to have contributed to solving a genetic genealogy case. "It's an incredible feeling to be part of a team that can provide answers and closure to families after so many years," Schwartz said.

Why this matters: The identification of Captain Yager's remains not only brings closure to his family but also highlights the power of genetic genealogy in solving cold cases and providing answers in seemingly unsolvable mysteries. The collaboration between law enforcement and academic institutions like Ramapo College's IGG Center demonstrates the potential for this technology to make a significant impact in the field of forensic science.

Plans are now being made to reunite Yager's jawbone with the rest of his remains buried in Missouri. While researchers are unsure exactly how the jawbone ended up in Arizona, one theory suggests it may have been picked up by a scavenger and carried across the distance. The IGG Center, which takes on dozens of cases at once, was confident in its findings after putting together the genetic and genealogical evidence. "We're honored to have played a role in bringing Captain Yager home," said Dr. Hsu.

Key Takeaways

• Ramapo College's IGG Center identified jawbone of Marine Capt. Everett Yager, missing since 1951.
• Jawbone found in child's rock collection in Arizona, far from Yager's believed burial site in Missouri.
• DNA evidence confirmed jawbone belonged to Yager, providing closure to his family after 73 years.
• High school intern Ethan Schwartz contributed to solving this genetic genealogy case, a rare achievement.
• Collaboration between law enforcement and academia demonstrates power of genetic genealogy in forensics.