Jennifer Bengtson : “Missouri Students Solve Mystery of Marshfield Man’s Identity”

Webster County coroner Michael Taylor’s office has finally made progress in the case of an unidentified man killed in a 2006 single-vehicle crash on Interstate 44 near Marshfield. The case, which has puzzled authorities for over a decade, has now caught the attention of forensic anthropology students at Southeast Missouri State University.

Led by associate professor Dr. Jennifer Bengtson, the program at SEMO has a track record of helping law enforcement solve cold cases involving unidentified human remains across Missouri. The latest case involves examining the ashes and DNA samples of the man killed in the Marshfield crash, who was found to have been living under a false alias.

Success in Previous Cases

Recently, Bengtson and her students assisted Lincoln County authorities in identifying the skeletal remains of Helen Groomes, a teenager missing since 1977. Now, their focus has shifted to uncovering the identity of the man from the Marshfield crash, whose only known connection was a surviving puppy.

Despite working in a small lab with limited resources, the program at SEMO has shown remarkable success in solving these challenging cases. They are now applying their expertise to the Webster County mystery, collaborating with local authorities like Taylor to bring closure to the families of the deceased.

Challenging the Norm

The SEMO program typically does not work with cremated remains, but in this unique case, they have opted to take on the challenge. Dr. Bengtson emphasized the importance of pushing boundaries and exploring cases outside their comfort zone.

Bollinger County deputy coroner Megan Cook, a former student of Bengtson’s program, played a key role in bringing the Webster County case to SEMO’s attention. With Taylor’s collaboration, they are hopeful that their combined efforts will lead to a breakthrough in the long-standing mystery.

Unraveling the Mystery

The unidentified man involved in the 2006 crash on Interstate 44 remains a puzzle to authorities. Despite initial attempts to identify him as Charles Goudeau, further investigation revealed discrepancies in his identity, leading to the discovery of his false alias.

It is believed that the man had been living in the community for an extended period, working as a bricklayer and even being arrested under the false name. SEMO’s focus now is to use advanced DNA extraction and analysis techniques to determine the man’s true identity and lay him to rest.

A Silent Mass Disaster

The case of the unidentified man from the Marshfield crash is just one of many unsolved mysteries in America. Dr. Bengtson highlighted the prevalence of such cases, referring to them as “America’s silent disaster.”

With DNA information entered into national databases like NameUs, efforts are being made to bring closure to families and solve these long-standing mysteries. SEMO students like Maddy Stiermell and Nora Kilburn are at the forefront of this challenging work, using their skills to uncover the truth.

As they continue their investigation and seek funding for further research, the collaboration between SEMO and local authorities offers hope for finally solving the 18-year-old Webster County mystery.

Ryan Collingwood covers a wide range of topics for the News-Leader with an emphasis on public safety. He can be reached by phone at 417-258-8174 and email at rcollingwood@news-leader.com. You can also follow Ryan on social media at Twitter.