CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — The Chesterfield County Police Department has identified the remains of a man that were found in 1990 using DNA analysis.
On May 18, 1990, officers were called to a wooded area near Point of Rocks Road where they recovered “partially skeletonized” remains of a man.
According to police, the remains were taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for analysis. The examiner reportedly found no signs of foul play and ruled the death as undetermined.
In the decades since, Chesterfield Police, with the assistance of the Medical Examiner’s Office and the Virginia Department of Forensic Science, worked to identify the remains.
“In June 2022, police began working with Othram, a private DNA lab that specializes in advanced forensic DNA testing,” a police spokesperson said. “Using Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® and genetic genealogy, Othram was able to identify potential family members of the unidentified man.”
A purported family member was then contacted by Chesterfield detectives and with their cooperation authorities identified a close family DNA match with the male remains.
Further testing led police to identify the remains as those of Robert L. Harris. At the time of his disappearance, Harris was reportedly 55 years old and lived in the 1400 block of Burning Tree Road in Henrico County.
“Harris was last seen by his mother on April 17, 1990, and he was never seen or heard from again after that date,” a police spokesperson said.
Surviving family members have been notified and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will work with the family to have Harris’ remains returned.
