Genealogy Identifies John Doe Despite Limited Information from Decomposed Remains
Skeletal Remains Identified in Arizona: Advances in Forensic Technology Aid Identification of Missing Person
In February 2024, skeletal remains were discovered in Gold Canyon, Arizona, prompting an extensive investigation by local authorities. Situated approximately one mile from U.S. Highway 60 and the Arizona Renaissance Festival site, the remains were unearthed in a remote desert area. The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office and the Pinal County Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an initial examination, which revealed that the remains belonged to an unidentified adult male, estimated to be between 20 and 65 years old, with potential Hispanic/Latino or Native American ancestry. Medical examiners indicated that the individual likely died sometime between 2022 and 2023. Due to the fragmentary nature of the skeletal evidence, height and weight estimations were deemed impossible, leading investigators to designate the case under the title Gold Canyon John Doe (2024). The details were subsequently recorded in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP116077.
Despite the application of advanced investigative methods, including the uploading of DNA samples to the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), no matches were initially recorded, leaving the case stagnant. However, in a promising development, the Pinal County Medical Examiner’s Office sent forensic evidence to Othram, a Texas-based laboratory specializing in advanced DNA testing. Othram’s team successfully extracted DNA and employed Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing to create a comprehensive DNA profile of the remains. This profile was further analyzed by a dedicated forensic genetic genealogy team to generate new investigative leads.
Through this innovative approach, law enforcement was able to track down potential relatives of the deceased. By collecting reference DNA samples from a family member, investigators confirmed the identity of the remains, revealing the individual to be 30-year-old David Bertschinger, who had been last seen alive in August 2023. Notably, Bertschinger was known to have lived in Apache Junction, Arizona, and had ties to Gold Canyon, where he had previously worked seasonally. His family, actively searching for him for nearly two years, reported him missing in July 2024.
The cause and manner of Bertschinger’s death remain under investigation, and ongoing efforts are expected to clarify these critical aspects. Funding for the advanced DNA testing, including the forensic genealogical research, was partially enabled through public donations via the DNASolves crowdfunding platform, with additional support from NamUs, which assists criminal justice agencies in addressing cases of missing, unidentified, and unclaimed persons across the United States.
The identification of David Bertschinger marks a significant milestone, being the 14th case in Arizona to leverage Othram’s cutting-edge technology for identification purposes. This development underscores the expanding role of forensic advancements in resolving cold cases and providing closure to affected families. Through continued collaboration and support, more families may receive answers in the future.
