The State Medical Examiner’s Office has an obligation to scientifically identify unidentified human remains before releasing a decedent for final disposition. One or a combination of the following methods may be used to achieve this goal: fingerprinting, DNA, forensic odontology, and forensic radiography. The method(s) employed will depend on a variety of factors, but the identity will be confirmed by one of our Forensic Pathologists or by our Forensic Odontologist. The State Medical Examiner’s Office relies on numerous resources in order to make identifications, including the state’s forensics laboratory, a private DNA lab, in-house forensic anthropology and odontology services, and NamUs, a national information clearinghouse and resource center for missing, unidentified and unclaimed persons cases in the United States. If the SMEO cannot identify a decedent within several months following intake, the case information will be entered into NamUs.
