Skull found by hikers in crevice in rugged area identified 30 years later, Utah cops say
Slightly more than 30 years after hikers found a human skull in a crevice, DNA testing has helped lead to its identification, Utah officials say.
Using forensic genetic genealogy, the remains were identified James Howard Conklin, the Kane County Sheriff’s Office said in an emailed statement to McClatchy News on Dec. 9.
Skull found
While trekking near Big Water on Feb. 7, 1994, hikers stumbled on a human skull “in a crevice in a rugged area,” according to deputies and the Utah Department of Public Safety.
Officials determined the remains belonged to a 6-foot tall man between 30 and 55 years old, Othram Inc., the forensic genetic genealogy company that helped identify the remains, said in a news release.
“Over the years,” the sheriff’s office said it, along with the Utah Office of the Medical Examiner, tried to identify the remains.
Detectives compared dental records from a missing person in a neighboring county to those from the skull; however, they were not a match, according to deputies.
Deputies said they submitted a DNA profile from the skull into national databases, but no matches were found.
Detectives also entered the case into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, according to deputies.
“Despite extensive efforts by law enforcement investigators to identify the subject, the case went cold for 30 years,” deputies said.
Genetic genealogy to ID
Then, earlier this year, detectives looked to forensic genetic genealogy in hopes of identifying the remains.
Genetic genealogy uses DNA testing coupled with “traditional genealogical methods” to create “family history profiles,” according to the Library of Congress. With genealogical DNA testing, researchers can determine if and how people are biologically related.
Detectives submitted a DNA sample from the remains to Othram Inc., deputies said.
There, scientists created a “comprehensive DNA profile” for the man, Othram said.
This profile was used in “detailed genealogy research,” which turned into new leads for detectives, deputies said.
Using information from Othram, deputies said its detectives found potential relatives for the unknown man, including a possible son.
The son provided a DNA sample that confirmed the remains belonged to Conklin, who was born in 1950, deputies said.
Based on evidence, deputies said they believe Conklin died sometime after May 1988.
Deputies said before he died, Conklin was seen in the Flagstaff, Arizona, area.
An investigation into Conklin’s death is ongoing, deputies said, adding that anyone with information about him is asked to contact deputies at 435-644-2349 or comm@kane.utah.gov.
Big Water is in southern Utah near the Arizona border.
This story was originally published December 9, 2024 at 1:05 PM with the headline "Skull found by hikers in crevice in rugged area identified 30 years later, Utah cops say."
