Remains found in Indiana in 1998 identified as those of long-missing man – NBC Chicago

Skeletal remains found more than a quarter-century ago near a highway overpass in western Indiana have been identified as those of an Indiana man who disappeared in 1997, authorities said Wednesday.

The remains are those of Mitchell Preston, an Anderson man who was 47 when he was last seen in the central Indiana city in August 1997 while walking to California, Indiana State Police said.

A highway worker found the remains in January 1998 near an Interstate 70 overpass in Vigo County near the Illinois border, about 120 miles (193 kilometers) southwest of Anderson. In the years that followed, efforts to identify them were unsuccessful.

But last year, state police, the Vigo County Coroner’s Office and the University of Indianapolis handed over skeletal remains to Othram, a company specializing in forensic genetic genealogy.

Othram created a DNA profile from these remains and state police detectives began contacting possible relatives of the then-unidentified person.

Using DNA from some of Preston’s relatives, investigators were able to confirm that the remains were Preston’s, said Sergeant Matt Ames of the Indiana State Police.

While the agency expressed its joy at being able to “bring some closure” to Preston’s family, it added that the investigation into his death was still “open.”

State police investigators are asking the public to contact them if they “have seen Mr. Preston or know what may have happened to him.” Tips can be submitted to 1-800-225-8576.