In the quiet shadows of the Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office lies a poignant reality—58 unidentified remains await a name, a connection to the families who have been left wondering. Among these lost souls are the remains of children and teenagers, whose stories remain untold. Thanks to a recent $50,000 grant from Othram, a Texas-based cold case resolution company, forensic pathologists are now turning to advanced DNA testing technology in hopes of bringing these nameless individuals back to life, if only in identification.
- 58 unidentified remains at Honolulu Medical Examiner's Office
- Othram grants $50,000 for DNA testing
- Five juvenile cases prioritized for identification
- Advanced DNA technology aids in solving cases
- Funding limitations hinder case resolution efforts
- Families of the unidentified seek closure and answers
The heartbreaking journey began in 2002 when a partial skeleton of a teenager was uncovered in Keehi Lagoon, adjacent to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. In 2000, a lifeless 7- to 10-year-old boy was found in Waianae. Then, in 2012, a girl under the age of 4 was discovered with six severed fingers in Honolulu. Most recently, in 2015, the skeletal remains of an adolescent were found mixed with animal bones inside a vase sold in Honolulu. Each of these cases bears a heavy weight—families suffering in silence, yearning for closure.
Medicolegal investigator Charlotte Carter, who has been on the front lines of this effort, stressed that each remains case is not just statistics; they represent real children who deserve to be named. As she eloquently put it, “Anybody who’s unidentified deserves to have a chance at being found and identified… and given their name back.” Carter’s dedication reveals that behind the numbers are stories of the young lives cut short, stories that might eventually link back to families who’ve been left in the dark.
Carter shared that the five cases selected for Othram’s testing were particularly poignant. They were chosen not only because they involved juveniles but also because experts believed that these remains had a good chance of yielding successful DNA results. However, complications arise in the quest for identification. The severed fingers found in the 2012 incident still leave investigators wondering whether they belonged to a child merely traumatized or one who met with a tragic end. “The possibility that they could be missing children can’t be ruled out,” she stated, underscoring the persistent uncertainty.
Forensic technology has made remarkable advancements in recent years. In fact, this method has been pivotal in resolving high-profile cases such as the identification of the Golden State Killer, Joseph James DeAngelo Jr., who pleaded guilty to numerous crimes that spanned decades. The process involves diving into DNA analysis and utilizing genealogy research to trace potential relatives, ultimately working backward to build a family tree that may lead to the identification of the deceased. However, it is an expensive and time-consuming process, with each case costing around $10,000, limiting the number of cases that can be tackled each year.
The Honolulu City Council has demonstrated its commitment by accepting Othram’s grant, yet future funding remains a significant hurdle. Many cases date back to as early as 1966, spanning various circumstances, from skeletal remains unearthed during construction to those found by hikers in remote areas where vulnerable populations may have sought refuge. In particular, a case from May 2016 involved a woman struck fatally by a vehicle, whose identity remains unknown despite attempts to match her through DNA and fingerprints.
Men and women searching for the truth are often met with obstacles; limitations in funding restrict the intensive screenings that could potentially solve many of these mysteries. Carter noted, “I just think everybody deserves a name, and their family deserves an answer.” Her hope is that advancements in technology will bring about much-needed accessibility, allowing for expeditious resolutions in each case.
The recent discoveries of unidentified remains, including a pair of femurs found in a camping tent in Haleiwa on October 9, signify ongoing efforts to confront the many faces of loss. While the journey of identification is often lengthy—sometimes taking over a year for results to emerge—there have been moments of success, such as the identification of William Hans Holling Jr., whose remains were confirmed with the help of Othram.
For the families who have suffered the heartbreak of losing a loved one without closure, the race against time and the unknown will continue. Unfortunately, as investigators sift through the sparse information available about each case, the question looms: when will the names surface, and will these young souls finally be given the identities they so desperately seek?
