SEMO’s Anthropology students and faculty have helped in solving a cold case involving unidentified human remains found in the Mississippi River near Portageville, Missouri, back in June of 2022. The remains, referred to as the “Portageville John Doe”, couldn’t be identified through initial forensic efforts. In 2024, local officials reached out to Dr. Jennifer Bengtson, an anthropology professor at SEMO. Her team conducted extensive forensic work including a biological profile, dental analysis and DNA sampling, which led to successful identification through testing at Othram, a forensic sequencing lab. The collaboration between the anthropology team and local officials led to a breakthrough in the case after tracing online posts from relatives of a missing man who matched the remains’ description. In April 2025, familial DNA testing confirmed the remains were from Robert J. Eaton, a 26-year-old from Elizabeth, Indiana. He had been missing since early 2022. In May, Eaton’s family traveled to Missouri to recover his remains. While the identification offers answers, the investigation into the circumstances surrounding his disappearance and death is still ongoing. The investigation was made possible through funding from the Missouri State Highway Patrol and private donations to SEMO’s Forensic Anthropology program.