A Cold Case Resolved
Investigators in Pennsylvania have formally identified the remains of David Queen, a Baltimore man missing for two decades. The breakthrough occurred after the DNA Doe Project, a non-profit group specializing in forensic genetic genealogy, applied advanced testing methods to bone samples recovered over a decade ago. Queen was 42 when he went missing in December 2006. His remains were discovered on November 18, 2013, near an intersection in West Manchester Township, Pennsylvania, by workers trimming trees.
For years, the identity of the victim remained a mystery. Local police classified the death as a homicide after uncovering clear evidence of trauma on the skeletal remains. Early examinations suggested the victim was a white male between 30 and 50 years old, but these initial conclusions proved incorrect. Without a name, the case sat in the regional cold case files while officials sought new investigative tools to bypass the limitations of standard forensic databases.
The Role of Genetic Genealogy
The West Manchester Township Police Department requested assistance from the DNA Doe Project to break the impasse. Forensic genealogists began by generating a new DNA profile from the bones. The process immediately shifted the investigative direction when the results indicated the man was African American, contrary to initial assumptions. This required the volunteers to search an entirely different set of records to find potential biological connections.
Matching the DNA proved difficult because the database returned only distant relatives. The closest match identified was a 1.7% genetic link. For five years, researchers tracked family trees across state lines, logging hundreds of hours to bridge the gap between anonymous DNA samples and a living person. Their work revealed connections linking the victim to North Carolina and Baltimore. Sgt. Lance Krout of the West Manchester Township Police served as the primary liaison throughout this period, coordinating directly with the non-profit team as they refined their search parameters.
Closing the File
Progress accelerated in late 2025. Volunteers cross-referenced death records and missing persons databases, eventually identifying David Queen. Investigators verified that his family had relocated from North Carolina to Maryland, aligning with the genetic data. Once they confirmed the lack of any 'proof of life' for Queen over the last twenty years, the team passed their findings to Sgt. Krout. Formal identification followed shortly thereafter through subsequent DNA confirmation.
This resolution provides closure for a family that spent twenty years wondering about the fate of their relative. Team leader Traci Onders cited the collaboration between non-profit volunteers and law enforcement as the defining factor in the success of the case. While the victim is now identified, the homicide investigation remains active as authorities shift focus from identification to finding those responsible for the death. The case demonstrates the increasing reliance on private forensic genealogy to resolve cases that traditional police work stalled on years ago.