Skeletal remains discovered in July 2000 in a remote area of Olympic National Park have been identified by forensic testing as those of Joseph Louis Serrao Jr., a man reported missing in 1998. The identification was completed in 2025 using forensic genealogy.
Discovery of Remains
A researcher found the remains in July 2000 along the Sol Duc River inside a tent. The remains were inside a sleeping bag, alongside items including binoculars, a day hiker pack, a shoulder bag, a folding saw, a blanket, and winter gear.
A pathologist from the King County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that the skeletal remains were likely those of a man aged 30 to 50 who had died between six months and two years prior. At the time, no usable fingerprints or other evidence led to an identification.
The Deceased
Joseph Louis Serrao Jr. was born in December 1960. He was last seen in 1998. At the time of his estimated death, he would have been in his late 30s.
Identification Process
- In 2024, an anthropologist from the medical examiner’s office submitted a DNA sample from the remains to Othram, a forensic laboratory.
- Using forensic genealogy, Othram identified possible relatives by 2025.
- Investigators contacted relatives in multiple states, including Hawaii, and matched DNA samples to confirm the remains were those of Serrao.
Official Statement
"This case remained unresolved for nearly 30 years, but investigators never lost sight of the goal of identifying this individual and finding answers for his family."
Debra Flowers, deputy chief of the National Park Service’s Criminal Investigative Division, added: "I'm proud of the persistence and collaboration that made this identification possible, and I hope it brings some measure of closure to those who have spent so many years wondering what happened to Joseph."