Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) anthropology students and faculty assisted in the identification of human remains recovered from the Mississippi River in 2022, and worked with law enforcement to bring long-awaited closure to the case for a family in Indiana.

The remains of an individual were recovered in June 2022 by the New Madrid County Sheriff’s Office from the Mississippi River near Portageville, Missouri.Although forensic and DNA testing were done, the identity of the individual, who had been known as “Portageville John Doe” for two years, could not be confirmed. In 2024, New Madrid County reached out to Jennifer Bengtson, professor of anthropology at SEMO.

The anthropology professor and her students assisted in the case, performing a comprehensive forensic evaluation of the remains, which led to an updated biological profile being generated, dental analysis being completed, and samples being selected for further DNA testing, which were sent to Othram, a forensic sequencing laboratory with a specialization in degraded DNA samples.While SEMO students worked to further refine the biological profile in order to narrow potential matches, Othram was able to build a comprehensive SNP profile with Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing and forensic genetic genealogy.

The analysis was able to find a possible match: investigators were able to find and interview potential relatives who had posted online about a missing family member who fit the profile. Familial DNA testing was performed in April 2025 to confirm that the remains were those of Robert J. Eaton, 26, who had been reported missing from Elizabeth, Indiana in early 2022.

“As always, we are honored to work with our law enforcement and laboratory partners to help bring resolution to another case,” Bengtson said. “Robbie's family finally has some answers and can now lay him to rest. But so many other families are still waiting for news on their own lost loved ones. By some estimates, there are up to 40,000 sets of unidentified human remains in this country. We'll keep working to help put a dent in that number.”

Support for this work came from the Missouri State Highway Patrol and private donations to SEMO’s Forensic Anthropology Program. In a statement, the New Madrid County Sheriff’s Office thanked SEMO for their assistance and time, and said that it has set a new standard for how future investigations will be conducted.

“This case opened the door to new techniques that will change the way we investigate unidentified remains in New Madrid County,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. “Because of the tireless efforts of Dr. Bengtson and her students, a family that has been searching for their son for the last two years finally has closure.”

Eaton’s family traveled to Missouri in May to pick up his remains and they also offered thanks to all of the individuals who assisted. The investigation into his death and disappearance continues.