John Doe Isanti 2003, buried over 30 years
Donald Ross Rindahl
On August 17, 2003, during an excavation of private property in the vicinity of Highway 17 and County Road 5, in Isanti County, Minnesota, skeletal human remains were discovered about three feet below the surface. Based on examination of the remains by Forensic Anthropologist Barbara O’Connell, and Drs Ophoven and Henk from the Anoka County Medical Examiners Office, it was determined that the remains were those of a Caucasian male with a height of about 5’10”, age 20-35 years, and that the remains had been buried for from 1 to 28 years.
Facial reconstruction was performed (at the time) to provide a likeness of the deceased.
A genotype file was prepared from the skull by Othram Forensics and uploaded to GEDmatch. Using Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG), Firebird Forensics Group determined that the remains were those of Donald Ross Rindahl. Three matches were used in Donald’s identification, one of 147 cM and two matches of 88.6 cM and 56.5 cM.
Lisa Lovering, Chief Deputy at the Isanti County Sheriff's Office, contacted family members who confirmed their brother had been missing for over 30 years. Subsequent DNA testing of a brother and a sister confirmed that the remains were those of Donald Rindahl.