A nearly three-decade-old New Hampshire cold case has finally reached a resolution. The collaborative efforts of the New Hampshire Cold Case Unit, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME), the University of New Hampshire F.A.I.R. Lab, and the State Police Major Crime and Cold Case Units have culminated in the identification of skeletal remains found in 1996, according to the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office.
Benjamin Adams, then 78 years old and suffering from dementia, vanished in June of 1991 after leaving his Canaan residence for a walk. Despite search efforts, Mr. Adams remained missing, and his fate was unknown for many years. Fast forward to November 1996, when a hunter stumbled upon skeletal remains in a wooded area in Hanover, not far from Adams' last known location. Initial suspicions led investigators to believe these could be the remains of the missing elderly man.
In 1997, an out-of-state forensic anthropologist examined the remains, finding their biological characteristics not inconsistent with those of Benjamin Adams. However, a positive identification could not be made at that time. Technology has since progressed, prompting forensic investigators with the OCME, the University of New Hampshire F.A.I.R. Lab, and the State Police Major Crime and Cold Case Units to reexamine the case, utilizing modern DNA testing to potentially close it.
Investigators managed to obtain a DNA sample from Adams' son, comparing it to the skeletal remains. The private contract lab, Bode Technology, subsequently confirmed the link with an astounding “at least 99.999998%” probability of relatedness. The DNA evidence is “at least 42 million times” more likely to be from a biological parent as compared to untested and unrelated individuals, culminating in the official identification of the remains as belonging to Benjamin Adams.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is currently in the process of coordinating the reunification of Mr. Adams' remains with his family, bringing an end to a decades-long search for answers.
