DNA Helped Identify Skull Found in the Wall of an Illinois Home in 1978, Confirms It Is From a Teenage Girl Who Died in 1866
Genetic technology has uncovered the identity of a skull found in the walls of an Illinois home. Authorities have determined the remains to be of a teenage girl who died from childbirth complications in 1866, USA Today reported. Officials conducted a press conference and identified the girl as Esther Granger. Granger was a resident of Merrillville, Indiana, and died at the age of 17.
The mystery was solved after matching the DNA of the remains with Granger's great, great grandson’s genetic material, as per the Kane County Coroner’s Office, the New York Post reported. The remains came to light back in 1978, when a homeowner in Batavia, Illinois, notified authorities about finding the skull. The skull was stuffed behind a drywall and the homeowner stumbled upon it during renovations.
At that time, forensic examinations revealed that the skull belonged to a woman who was in her mid-20s and had died before 1900, USA Today reported. Investigators could not find any further leads, and the case went cold. Authorities sent the skull to Batavia Depot Museum for safekeeping and storage.
The existence of the skull got wiped out of people's memories and reemerged again when museum officials located it in a box while cleaning, the New York Post reported. Cops were involved and sent the remains to the Kane County Coroner’s Office. The Coroner's Office collaborated with Othram Laboratories, to build a DNA profile of the skull. The analysis revealed that the skull was of a woman, who was a teenager, at the time of her death. Theafter they built a family tree and contacted Granger's great-great grandson.
"We had the means to do it, so why not do it?" Kane County Coroner Rob Russell said, ABC7 reported. "No reason not to." The coroner had to organize a fundraiser to pay for the testing.
It was revealed that Granger was born in 1848 and died after giving birth to her only daughter at the age of 17, the New York Post reported. She was in Merrillville, Indiana, at the time of her death, and was allegedly buried there by her husband.
Officials were unable to find out more about the woman because of a lack of acquaintances, ABC7 reported. "We don't have any names of anybody in town that knew her," Batavia Mayor Jeffrey Schielke said. "She's kind of a mystery to us."
Professional photographer, Thomas Doggett, 3D Resin Solutions of South Elgin, Illinois, and forensic artist, Natalie Murray, teamed up to create an artist rendition of Granger's appearance, USA Today reported. The rendition was made available to the public.
Investigators believe that Granger's skull ended up in Illinois, because of grave robbers, the New York Post reported. They speculate that grave robbers stole the skull from Granger's resting place, and could have sold it for medical experimentation. In the 1800s researchers were paying huge money to get their hands on human remains, to understand the human anatomy, which in turn fueled the black market trade of human body parts.
Granger's family is relieved by this revelation, ABC7 reported. "There’s this sense of closure," great, great grandson Wayne Silver, 69 stated. "I wish my mom was still here so I could tell her. She’d love it."
Authorities were ecstatic to solve the decades-old mystery, USA Today reported. "For decades the identity of this individual was unknown," Russell said. "Decades later, thanks to the tireless work of those gathered here today, advances in science and technology, and some divine intervention we can confidently say Jane Doe is Esther Granger," he added.
Granger's remains were laid to rest at the West Batavia Cemetery, ABC7 reported. The ceremony was attended by the woman's second great-grandchild.