KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — After nearly two years, investigators have determined that skeletal remains found in 2022 belonged to a man who had been missing from the Knoxville area since 2020.
Othram Inc., a Texas-based laboratory well-known as a leader in forensic genetic genealogy, initially released on Friday that an identity in the case had been discovered.
Investigators release sketch of unidentified woman after body found in 2022
Knoxville Police confirmed that they investigated the case after a tree trimming service discovered the remains. When investigators arrived at the scene, they determined that the remains were a human skull. After a search of the area, the remains were then taken to the Knox County Regional Forensic Center.
While the forensic center did submit the case for forensic genetic genealogy testing through Othram, the break in the case was discovered without DNA, according to Knox County Regional Forensic Center Chief Administrative Officer and Director Chris Thomas.
“… It was one of our own investigators that was searching through NamUs and noticed Mr. Wilhite. He was not reported to our office by any agency as a comparison for these remains and she noticed similarities,” Thomas told 6 News.
The forensic center then pulled radiographs, and a forensic anthropologist matched those to the remains the center had. The man was identified as Cody S. Wilhite.
Knox County remains identified after being found in September 2021
According to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), Wilhite disappeared from the Knoxville area in 2020 when he was 29 years old. The last time his family had contact with him was on May 10, 2020.
The forensic center’s release on this case is expected within the next week.
Authorities say nearly 400 people go missing in Tennessee each year. That’s five people for every 100,000. Check this list of people missing from East Tennessee to see if you can help locate someone.
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