Coroner says identifying human remains found in Trotwood is more difficult than normal cases

DAYTON — The Montgomery County Coroner’s Office is working to identify a human skull and remains that were discovered in Trotwood on Tuesday, but the coroner says these types of cases are much more difficult than the ordinary.

Dr. Kent Harshbarger, Montgomery County Coroner, told News Center 7′s Mike Campbell that the skeletal remains that a work crew came across had likely been there a long time.

“It’s probably months,” Harshbarger said.

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He said that 99 percent of the time, his investigators identify deceased people visually, either with the ID they carry or a family members making the ID. But Harshbarger said skeletal remains are much different.

“If you have no idea who a person is, it becomes very difficult,” he said.

These cases, Harshbarger said, are resource-intensive and having a lab attached is very helpful. In their lab, the coroner’s office is able to determine main ID components like size, race and male or female characteristics.

“Ultimately, it is about getting to the public,” he said.

Harshbarger told WHIO that the pyramid of identification starts with visual IDs, then it goes to fingerprint evidence. If that is not available, dental records are often used, but if there are no comparisons there, it goes down to DNA.

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He said that no matter where the person may be found, it is vitally important to have families speak with the office’s investigators and tell them who they believe the person is.

“Ultimately, it is DNA, but you still have to have comparisons to make that determination,” he said.

The Montgomery County Coroner’s Office said it will only be a matter of hours, if not more than a couple days, before they are able to make a positive identification on the remains and get with any surviving family members to confirm.

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