CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Human remains discovered nearly 30 years ago in Chillicothe, have finally been positively identified. The remains belong to a man who disappeared from the VA Medical Center in 1972 and were not discovered until 1996 along the Scioto River.
In 2022, the DNA Doe Project, a nonprofit specializing in genealogical DNA testing, assisted the Ross County Coroner’s Office in identifying the remains as belonging to Ward Raymond Thomas. The Coroner’s Office reportedly obtained grant funding to help cover the lab costs.
Genetic Genealogy, which combines DNA test results with traditional genealogical methods, was used to determine the genetic relationships and ultimately identify the remains.
