DNA Solves 26-Year-Old Mystery of Man Found in National Park

Forensic tests have identified the remains of a man found in a sleeping bag in Washington state's Olympic National Park 26 years after his disappearance. Joseph Louis Serrao Jr., originally from Hawaii, was last seen in 1998. His family had not heard from him since then. In July 2000, a researcher discovered skeletal remains in a remote part of the park along the Sol Duc River. The remains were inside a tent with multiple items, including binoculars, a day hiker pack, a shoulder bag, a folding saw, a blanket, and winter gear. A pathologist determined the remains likely belonged to a man between the ages of 30 and 50, who had died at least six months to two years earlier. Serrao, born in December 1960, would have been in his late 30s at the time of his death. However, the lack of usable fingerprints and other concrete evidence prevented authorities from identifying him until recently. A breakthrough came in 2024 when an anthropologist submitted a DNA sample to Othram, a forensic laboratory. Using forensic genealogy, the lab identified possible family members by 2025. Investigators then reached out to the family for confirmation.