Ramapo College’s Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) Center finally brought closure to a 70-year-old mystery. Human remains discovered in Arizona in 2002 have now been identified as belonging to the U.S. Marine Corps Captain Everett Leland Yager, thanks to DNA analysis and collaborative research conducted by students, faculty and partners at Ramapo.
The case dates back to May 2002, when a young boy collecting rocks in a remote area of Yavapai County, Ariz, discovered a human jawbone. Despite efforts by the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office and the Medical Examiner’s Office to determine the individual’s identity, early DNA testing showed no results. For over two decades, the remains, referred to as “Rock Collection John Doe,” remained unidentified.
In January 2023, the Yavapai County authorities turned to Ramapo College’s IGG Center for help. The Center, part of the School of Social Science and Human Services, was launched in December 2022 to provide students with hands-on experience solving real-world cases using investigative genetic genealogy.
The jawbone was sent to Intermountain Forensics, a non-profit forensic DNA lab in Salt Lake City, where experts conducted DNA extraction and whole genome sequencing. Once the DNA profile was developed, it was uploaded to GEDmatch Pro and FamilyTreeDNA.
In a breakthrough, a match was found within just two days. The discovery came during Ramapo’s IGG Bootcamp, an intensive learning program where students and interns work on real cases and learn to adapt their skills. Among the participants was Ethan Schwartz, a high school student from Suffern High School who had joined the bootcamp as an intern. The team was able to narrow down to Capt. Yager as a candidate for identification.
Capt. Yager had died during a military training exercise in July 1951. His remains were initially recovered in Riverside County, Calif., and believed to be buried in Palmyra, Mo. The discovery of a portion of his jawbone in Arizona decades later remains a mystery.
To confirm the identity, a DNA sample was requested from Capt. Yager’s daughter. In August 2023, the analysis confirmed the match, officially solving the cold case. The identification not only brings closure to a family but also highlights the growing role of genetic genealogy in modern forensic science.
The Ramapo College IGG Center continues to offer pro bono casework to law enforcement agencies across the country. Students who participate in the program engage in a 15-week online certificate course. The program is designed to train students from a wide variety of backgrounds and provide them with skills that can be applied in criminal justice, anthropology, genealogy, and related fields.
For more information about the IGG Center and its educational programs, visit www.ramapo.edu/igg.