Bone found on Michigan beach belonged to Ronald Wayne Jager

GANGES TOWNSHIP, Mich. — A western Michigan fisherman who went lacking in 2000 has been recognized via DNA testing on a jaw bone that washed up on a seaside 14 years later, police stated Friday.

The DNA Doe Undertaking, working with the Michigan State Police, decided the jaw bone belonged to Ronald Wayne Jager of Fruitland Township. The DNA Doe Undertaking is an all-volunteer, California-based group whose mission is to determine John and Jane Does and return them to their households.

Jager was reported lacking the day after he launched his boat in August 2000 in Whitehall. The boat washed ashore on the Wisconsin shoreline 80 miles away, Michigan State Police stated. U.S. Coast Guard searches discovered no hint of Jager.

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The weathered bone containing three tooth was found by a jogger operating alongside the Lake Michigan shoreline. State police Detective Sgt. Scott Ernestes, who had labored with DNA Doe Undertaking beforehand, turned to it once more for assist.

The bone was despatched to the College of North Texas, the place genealogists this month matched the DNA to family members of Jager. One other partial set of stays present in Oceana County in 2014 additionally matched Jager.

Jager’s household was advised concerning the match and his stays might be returned to his household, police stated.

State Police Detective Sgt. Todd Workman lauded the DNA Doe Undertaking.

“On behalf of the MSP and the Jager household, we want to categorical our gratitude, and thanks for the wonderful work they undertake and the service they supply,” Workman stated.

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