At a Glance
- Clarence Edwin Asher, former mayor of Fossil, Ore., was declared legally dead in 2006 after vanishing while crabbing
- Skeletal remains discovered that November on a Washington beach remained unidentified for 18 years
- On January 13, DNA laboratory Othram matched the remains to Asher, closing the decades-old mystery
- Why it matters: The case marks Washington’s 43rd successful identification using advanced forensic genealogy, offering closure to a large surviving family
Clarence Edwin Asher disappeared on September 5, 2006, while crabbing in Oregon’s Tillamook Bay. Authorities presumed the 72-year-old former Fossil mayor had drowned, and he was declared legally dead the same year. Nearly two decades later, officials confirmed skeletal remains found months after his disappearance belong to him.
Discovery on the Shore
On a November day in 2006, skeletal remains washed ashore in Taholah, an unincorporated village on the Quinault Indian Reservation in Washington State. The Grays Harbor County Coroner’s Office responded, collecting evidence and determining the remains belonged to an adult male between the ages of 20 and 60, approximately 5′ 9″ tall and weighing 170-180 lbs.
Despite these details, investigators could not establish the man’s identity. The case file was labeled “Grays Harbor County John Doe (2006).”
Breakthrough via DNA Technology
Last year, the Grays Harbor County Coroner’s Office and the King County Medical Examiner’s Office partnered with private DNA laboratory Othram to re-examine forensic evidence from the case.
Othram scientists extracted DNA and applied Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing to build a comprehensive profile. The company’s in-house genealogy team then conducted a genetic genealogy search, producing new investigative leads that were returned to law enforcement.
Armed with this information, authorities launched a follow-up investigation that led them to possible relatives of the unknown man. A relative provided a DNA sample; comparison with the remains produced a positive identification.
On January 13, the Grays Harbor County Coroner’s Office and the King County Medical Examiner’s Office jointly announced the remains were those of Clarence Edwin Asher.
A Life of Service
Asher’s 2006 obituary described a life rooted in Oregon. Born in Salem and raised in Astoria, he later moved to Fossil with his first wife. He spent his career as a lineman technician for the Fossil Telephone Company, retiring in 1995 after decades of service.
In addition to serving as mayor, Asher volunteered as a local fireman and ambulance driver. He sat on both the ambulance and museum boards, contributing to community safety and heritage.
Family was central to his life. The obituary noted, “Loves in Ed’s life included his wife of over 20 years, Helen, their large family, antique cars, fishing, boating, hunting, black labs, cooking and RVing.”
Surviving Family
At the time his obituary was published, Asher left behind:
- His wife, Helen
- Three children from previous marriages
- Two stepsons
- Twenty-one grandchildren
- Six great-grandchildren
The identification brings long-awaited closure to this extensive family network.
Milestone for Forensic Science
Authorities emphasized the collaborative nature of the resolution. The Grays Harbor County Coroner’s Office and the King County Medical Examiner’s Office coordinated with Othram to apply cutting-edge forensic techniques to an 18-year-old cold case.
The successful identification of Asher represents the 43rd case in Washington State where officials have identified a person using Othram’s DNA technology, underscoring the growing role of forensic genealogy in modern investigations.
Sophia A. Reynolds reported the original story for News Of Losangeles.
