A complex military repatriation cold case assisted by craniofacial superimposition

In 1950, partially skeletonized remains of a U.S. serviceman were recovered near the Pusan Perimeter, South Korea during the Korean War. Following initial analysis (no identification), the remains were returned to the U.S.A. and interred at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Hawaii. In 2011, an exhumation was conducted for renewed accounting/repatriation analysis. Historical loss information indicated the skeleton may belong to one of 29 individuals. Twenty-eight of these individuals were excluded by DNA, dental records, induction chest radiographs, and/or biological profiles. DNA, dental records, and chest radiographs could offer no progress, however, for the last historically consistent individual-no DNA reference samples on file, all teeth present without restorations, and no induction chest X-ray(s). Identification via exclusion (and without biological indicators) was considered inadequate due to the possibility of inaccuracies in the loss information account. In 2024, a craniofacial superimposition (CFS) was undertaken using a photograph of the subject in an open-mouth smile and updated CFS technology. A military dress hat, similar to that worn by the subject served as a reference to set the focus distance for skull photography. Skull alignment included all boundaries within the face, eyes and nose in anatomically feasible positions, corresponding nasal bridge shape and alignment of a prominent canine on the subject's right side. This case illustrates the utility of engaging multiple analytical methods in complex cases and underscores CFS utility when a biological link from the skeleton to an individual cannot be provided by other means.