FY24 MUHR Proposal - Wisconsin DFS

The Division of Forensic Sciences of the Wisconsin Department of Justice, a statewide agency, is seeking funding under the FY24 Missing and Unidentified Human Remains award Purpose Area 1 to address eighty unidentified human remains cases inventoried in Wisconsin. To optimize funding and ensure effective case resolution, the division will collaborate closely with the Wisconsin Identity Resolution team. This multidisciplinary group includes a project manager, DNA analysts, a forensic anthropologist, an odontologist, and special agents and analysts from the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation, collectively leveraging diverse expertise and resources. The primary objective of this proposal is to identify the remains using comprehensive investigative and DNA technologies. Each case will undergo thorough review by Wisconsin Identity Resolution and will be entered into necessary investigative databases. Subsequently, bone samples from each case will be sent to a specialized laboratory capable of extracting DNA from skeletal remains. The DNA profiles obtained, which will be entered into the Combined DNA Index System, will be pivotal in initiating identification efforts. Cases that remain unresolved through the Combined DNA Index System will undergo whole genome sequencing at a contracted laboratory. The resulting DNA sequences will then be uploaded to genealogical databases approved for law enforcement use, where genetic genealogy techniques will be employed to establish familial relationships and advance the identification process. By leveraging cutting-edge forensic genetics and genealogical investigation, the project to resolve outstanding cases of unidentified remains and enhance Wisconsin’s capability and capacity to address future cases of missing persons and unidentified remains. Expected outcomes include positively identifying a significant number of the eighty unidentified individuals, thereby offering closure to families and enhancing public safety by resolving long-standing cases. Upon submission of this application, the applicant’s jurisdiction has reported 47 unresolved Unidentified Human Remains (UHR) cases and 213 unresolved Missing Persons (MP) cases to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs). Funding under this program will, in part, work toward resolving a portion of the aforementioned cases by the end of the grant period.