Skeletal remains found in Washington have been positively identified as those of Clarence Asher, a former mayor of Fossil, thanks to advanced DNA testing.
On the morning of September 5, 2006, Clarence Edwin ‘Ed’ Asher set out on his boat for a crabbing trip in Tillamook Bay, Oregon. However, he did not return as expected.
When Asher failed to return by 3pm, his wife informed the Oregon State Police of his disappearance. The search for the 72-year-old, who had retired from his role as a lineman technician at the Fossil Telephone Company and had also served as Fossil’s mayor, was initiated by the US Coast Guard.
The search effort included two utility boats, a motor lifeboat, a skiff, and several helicopters. Asher’s 21-foot boat was eventually found approximately half-a-mile from the Garibaldi Marina, as reported by The Astorian at the time.
Onboard the boat, live crab and two of Asher’s three buoys were found, but there was no life jacket. Asher’s wife noted that he typically did not wear a life jacket despite not knowing how to swim.
It was assumed that Asher might have fallen overboard. After an additional 11 hours of searching, the Coast Guard concluded their search the following afternoon.
Asher was presumed to have drowned, and a memorial service was conducted on October 14, 2006.
In November 2006, human remains were discovered on a beach in the village of Taholah on the Quinault Indian Reservation in Grays Harbor County, Washington.
The Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office and the Grays Harbor County Coroner’s Office initially determined that the remains belonged to a male between the ages of 20 and 60, with a height of approximately 5ft9in and a weight between 170 to 180lbs, according to DNA Solves.
Unable to make a formal identification at the time, the remains were labeled as Grays Harbor County John Doe until recent developments.
Last year, forensic evidence was forwarded by the Grays Harbor County Coroner’s Office in collaboration with the King County Medical Examiner to Othram scientists in The Woodlands, Texas.
Utilizing a method known as Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing, the scientists were able to develop a comprehensive DNA profile from the remains, as reported by DNASolves.
Through a genetic genealogy search, experts conducted further analysis leading to an investigation by law enforcement, which confirmed the remains were indeed Asher’s.
DNASolves stated, as cited by KVAL: “Critical funding to enable forensic genetic genealogy testing in this case was made possible by Governor Ferguson, Attorney General Nick Brown, and the Washington State Legislature. We are grateful for their support in providing this funding.
“Individuals who have taken a consumer DNA test can aid ongoing forensic investigations by joining the DNASolves database. Expanding the pool of available DNA data increases the likelihood of successful identifications, helping to reunite families with their missing loved ones and resolve cases that have remained unsolved for years.”
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