Remains found in 1997 near Canadian border identified as hunter last seen in the 70s

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Chilly case investigators have recognized human stays which might be roughly 5 a long time outdated, in line with the Alaska Bureau of Investigation.

A web-based dispatch mentioned {that a} human cranium was found by a hunter close to the Porcupine River, roughly eight miles from the Canadian Border, on July 23 of 1997. The dispatch says that troopers responded to the scene, however didn’t discover any further stays. Troopers then despatched the cranium to the State Medical Examiner’s Workplace, and listed the suspected explanation for loss of life as a bear mauling.

“In April 2022, DNA was extracted from the stays. Chilly case investigators used genetic family tree to tentatively determine the stays as these of Gary Frank Sotherden of New York (who could be 71 years outdated if alive right now),” the dispatch mentioned.

One in all Sotherden’s family was contacted by investigators, and the relative offered a DNA pattern.

“The relative additionally instructed AST that Gary was dropped off within the space the place his stays had been situated someday within the early to mid-Nineteen Seventies to go looking,” the dispatch mentioned.

The dispatch mentioned that Sotherden’s dwelling relative was notified on Dec. 27 of 2022 that the cranium was Sotherden’s and organized for the return of his stays with the State Medical Examiner’s Workplace.

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