Remains found in Indiana in 1998 identified as long-missing man – NBC Chicago

Skeletal remains discovered near a western Indiana highway overpass more than a quarter-century ago have been identified as those of an Indiana man who disappeared in 1997, officials said Wednesday. authorities.

The remains are those of Mitchell Preston, an Anderson man who was 47 when he was last seen in this central Indiana city in August 1997 while walking to California, Indiana State Police said.

A state highway worker discovered the remains in January 1998 near an Interstate 70 overpass in Vigo County, near the Illinois border, about 120 miles (193 kilometers) southwest of 'Anderson. Efforts over the following years to identify them proved unsuccessful.

But last year, state police, the Vigo County coroner's office and the University of Indianapolis submitted skeletal remains to Othram, a company that specializes in forensic genetic genealogy.

Othram developed a DNA profile from those remains and state police detectives began contacting potential relatives of the then-unidentified person.

DNA provided by some of Preston's relatives helped investigators confirm the remains belonged to Preston, the sergeant said. Matt Ames of the Indiana State Police.

Although the agency said it was “pleased to provide some closure” to Preston's family, it said his death remained an “open investigation.”

State police detectives are asking the public to contact them if they “may have seen Mr. Preston or have any knowledge of what may have happened to him.” Tips can be provided at 1-800-225-8576.