Captain Everett Leland Yager : “Child collecting rocks identified as US Marine who died in training accident in 1951 – NBC 7 San Diego”

Accident – Death – Obituary News : : 1. Marine jawbone artifact
2. Collecting rocks US Marine 1951

A jawbone discovered two decades ago in Arizona by a boy with a rock collection has been positively identified as belonging to a U.S. Marine who died in a training accident decades later. Last year, the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office gave the bone piece to the Ramapo College Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center in New Jersey. Conventional DNA testing yielded no results until the bone was turned over to the genealogy center, which identified it as Captain Everett Leland Yager’s. Experts believe a bird may have picked up the jawbone, which ended up in Arizona. Yager’s remains will be returned to his family after a genetic profile match.

The Discovery of the Jawbone in Arizona

Twenty years ago, a young boy in Arizona stumbled upon a jawbone while exploring his rock collection. Little did he know that this seemingly insignificant discovery would unravel a mystery spanning decades.

The Identification Process

After the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office received the bone fragment in 2002, conventional DNA testing failed to provide any leads. The case was at a standstill until last year when the bone was handed over to the Ramapo College Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center in New Jersey.

Positive Identification

Recent developments have revealed that the jawbone belongs to Captain Everett Leland Yager, a U.S. Marine who tragically lost his life in a training accident in California over 70 years ago. His remains were laid to rest in his hometown in Missouri, but how the jawbone ended up in Arizona remains a mystery.

The Role of Ramapo College IGG Center

Cairenn Binder, the assistant director of the Ramapo College IGG Center, highlighted the collaborative efforts of the school’s summer boot camp students and experienced researchers in cracking this case. The utilization of genome sequencing and bioinformatics led to the creation of a genetic profile that ultimately linked the jawbone to Captain Yager.

Family Reunion

Thanks to the DNA sample provided by Yager’s daughter, a parent-child genetic profile match was confirmed. The remains will soon be returned to the Marine’s family, bringing closure to a long-standing mystery.

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Remember, every discovery has a story waiting to be told. In this case, a jawbone found in Arizona has uncovered a tale of bravery, sacrifice, and the power of genetic genealogy.