When Fingerprints Don't Work, Cook Co. Morgue Turns To DNA To ID Bodies

CHICAGO, IL — What happens when bodies that arrive at the Cook County morgue can't be identified by traditional means, such as fingerprints and dental records? That's when the medical examiner's office sends them out for for different type of testing in hopes of finding out their elusive identities.

"Each year we have about five to 10 cases in which other methods of scientific identification do not yield results, and DNA testing is ordered," Becky Schlikerman, public information officer for the Cook County Bureau of Administration, told Patch.

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Currently, there are 22 John and Jane Does at the morgue that are undergoing the scientific identification process, which includes using fingerprints, medical and dental records, and other identifying information, Schlikerman said. All the medical examiner's 2015 and '16 cases that require DNA testing have been sent out, and only one '17 case has needed DNA testing so far.

When DNA testing is required, the remains are sent to the University of North Texas, Schlikerman said. But Cook County medical examiner Dr. Ponni Arunkumar told CBS 2 Chicago that funding problems at the university have caused some delays in testing. That hasn't, however, caused a backlog in remains at the morgue as some reports have stated.

"Every case that requires DNA testing is being sent out for testing," Schlikerman said.

Along with the Texas lab, the medical examiner's office also uses the services provided by the Illinois State Police lab, she said. The medical examiner's office also is accepting all remains that require identification, she added.

Photo via Shutterstock

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