Othram
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Biotechnology, Forensic genetic genealogy |
| Founded | 2018 |
| Founder | David Mittelman |
| Headquarters | The Woodlands, Texas , United States |
Area served | United States, Canada |
| Products | Forensic genetic genealogy services, DNA sequencing for law enforcement |
Othram (also known as Othram Inc.) is a U.S.-based biotechnology firm focused on forensic genetic genealogy to assist in solving cold cases involving unsolved homicides, missing persons, and the identification of unknown deceased individuals (John and Jane Does). The organization equips law enforcement agencies with cutting-edge technologies that integrate short tandem repeat analysis, single nucleotide polymorphism testing, and forensic whole genome sequencing to establish familial connections ranging from immediate family members to distant relatives.
Established in 2018 by David Mittelman and operating out of The Woodlands, Texas, Othram has played a pivotal role in cracking several notable cold cases, including the identifications of Beth Doe, Septic Tank Sam, and Delta Dawn. Numerous investigations handled by the company remain under wraps until the successful resolution of the case.
The pioneering methods and forensic work conducted by Othram served as inspiration for the 500th episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
Suspect identifications
In these instances, Othram sequences DNA and applies forensic genetic genealogy techniques to generate investigative leads regarding suspects involved in violent offenses such as homicide and sexual assault.
Murder of Carla Walker
In 1974, 17-year-old Carla Walker was abducted from a bowling alley in Fort Worth, Texas. Both she and her boyfriend endured an attack; Walker was subsequently discovered having been beaten, tortured, sexually assaulted, strangled, and injected with morphine. Utilizing forensic genealogy on DNA extracted from Walker’s remains in 2020, Othram identified Glen Samuel McCurley as the perpetrator, who was then charged with her murder.
Murder of Christine Jessop
Christine Jessop, aged nine from Queensville, Ontario, was kidnapped in 1984 and later found raped and stabbed to death. In 2019, Toronto Police enlisted Othram’s services to sequence DNA retrieved from semen present on her clothing. This effort led to the identification of Calvin Hoover—who had passed away in 2015—as the individual responsible for the crime.
Murder of Siobhan McGuinness
Five-year-old Siobhan McGuinness from Missoula, Montana was abducted in 1974 and discovered murdered two days afterward. After decades without breakthroughs, in 2020 the Missoula Police Department partnered with BODE Technology, the FBI, and Othram to produce a genetic profile from DNA collected at the scene. Applying forensic genealogy methods previously used to identify the Golden State Killer, they named Richard William Davis as the offender; Davis had died in 2012.
Unidentified remains cases
Othram has employed DNA sequencing combined with forensic genealogy to identify previously unrecognized deceased individuals.
Alisha Heinrich AKA "Delta Dawn"
On December 5, 1982, the body of a toddler was recovered from the Escatawpa River near Moss Point, Mississippi. The child was later confirmed as Alisha Ann Heinrich, last seen with her mother Gwendolyn Clemmons—who remains missing and is presumed dead. In 2019, Othram was commissioned by the Jackson County Sheriff's Office to develop a genetic profile. Working alongside the FBI, they successfully identified Heinrich in September 2020, closing a case that had remained unresolved for more than 38 years.
Vance Rodriguez AKA "Mostly Harmless"
In July 2018, an unidentified man was found deceased inside his tent near the Appalachian Trail within Florida’s Big Cypress National Preserve; evidence suggested he died from starvation. Known by nicknames including "Mostly Harmless," his identity remained unknown until Othram became involved in July 2020. On January 12, 2021, he was identified as Vance John Rodriguez from Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, who had later moved to Brooklyn. This identification resulted after a former co-worker recognized him following flyer distribution.
Evelyn Colon, Known as "Beth Doe"
On December 20, 1976, authorities discovered the dismembered remains of a young female, possibly white or Hispanic, concealed within several suitcases beneath a highway overpass in White Haven, Pennsylvania. Unable to determine her identity at the time, officials interred her under the name "Beth Doe". After 44 years, a DNA comparison conducted in 2020 identified a familial connection to Luis Colon Jr. His relatives disclosed that his aunt, Evelyn Colon, vanished from Jersey City, New Jersey, at the age of 15 while pregnant and involved in an abusive relationship.
In 2020, the Pennsylvania State Police collaborated with the NCMEC and engaged Othram to perform DNA sequencing for forensic genealogy purposes. On March 31, 2021, law enforcement officially confirmed that "Beth Doe" was Evelyn Colon. Subsequently, Luis Sierra, who was Colon’s boyfriend and the father of her unborn child, was apprehended on charges related to her murder.
Janet Lucas, Also Known as "Christy Crystal Creek"
The skeletal remains of a young woman dubbed "Christy Crystal Creek" were uncovered on September 9, 1985, near Missoula, Montana. The victim had suffered two gunshot wounds from a .32 caliber firearm to her skull and is believed to have died sometime between 1983 and early 1985. She was estimated to be between in height and weighed approximately 90 to 110 pounds. Dental examinations revealed the use of dental posts consistent with Asian dental practices, indicating a possible Asian heritage.
Wayne Nance, a serial killer who died in 1986, has been suspected in connection with this case but was never formally charged. Other victims attributed to Nance include "Debbie Deer Creek" and "Betty Beavertail," later identified as Marcella Bachmann and Devonna Nelson respectively.
With assistance from Othram, Janet Lucas was positively identified in May 2021. She was last seen in Idaho in 1983 and originally hailed from Spokane, Washington.
Gordon "Gordie" Sanderson AKA "Septic Tank Sam"
On April 13, 1977, the decomposed body of a young to middle-aged man, possibly Native American or white, was discovered submerged in a septic tank approximately 1.8 meters deep in Tofield, Alberta. The individual had suffered multiple gunshot wounds and endured extreme torture, including burns inflicted by a blowtorch and cigarette lighters. Authorities suspect the perpetrator had knowledge of the isolated, rundown property. The victim's age was estimated between 26 and 50 years, with a height of 168 cm and a weight near 70 kg. He had brown hair and recent dental work. His attire consisted of a Levi work shirt, gray T-shirt, jeans, gray wool socks, and brown faux 'Wallabee' shoes.
In 2020, the Alberta RCMP and Chief Medical Examiner enlisted Othram to generate new investigative leads. By June 2021, genetic analysis identified the victim known as "Septic Tank Sam" as Gordon "Gordie" Edwin Sanderson from Edmonton, Alberta.
Margaret Fetterolf AKA "Woodlawn Jane Doe"
On September 12, 1976, the partially wrapped remains of a young woman were located near a cemetery in Woodlawn, Baltimore County, Maryland. She had been subjected to assault, strangulation, and sexual assault; her clothing displayed signs of bleeding. Investigators believe she was killed elsewhere before being left at the discovery site. The estimated age range was 15 to 30 years old; she weighed between 149 and 159 pounds and stood between 5'6" and 5'9". Her clothing included a white and tan shirt, white bra, and knee-high socks featuring multicolored stripes.
In February 2021, Baltimore County Police partnered with BODE Technology and engaged Othram to develop a genealogical DNA profile. On September 15, 2021, she was positively identified as Margaret Fetterolf, aged 16, from Alexandria, Virginia.
Clara Birdlong AKA "Escatawpa Jane Doe"
Skeletal remains belonging to an African American woman with a distinctive front gold tooth were uncovered on December 27, 1977, in Escatawpa, Mississippi. It is believed she may have worn a wig and died approximately three to four months prior to discovery.
Serial killer Samuel Little admitted responsibility for her murder; he stated that he encountered her at a Gulfport bar and noted she originated from the Pascagoula region. Little was apprehended in Pascagoula in August 1977 during the estimated period of death and passed away in prison in December 2020.
The Jackson County Sheriff's Office collaborated with the Mississippi State Crime Lab and engaged Othram for sophisticated DNA testing. On September 21, 2021, she was identified as Clara Birdlong, aged 44, from Leflore County, Mississippi.
George Seitz AKA "Queens John Doe"
On March 12, 2019, dismembered human remains were discovered in a backyard in Queens after a woman reported witnessing her stepfather burying a body during the 1970s; however, the victim’s identity remained unknown at that time. Othram worked alongside the Queens District Attorney's Office and the FBI’s New York City division to establish the victim’s identity. On November 3, 2021, he was confirmed as George Clarence Seitz, aged 81 and a World War I veteran who disappeared on December 10, 1976, after leaving home for a haircut. Martin Motta was arrested and charged with his murder.
Sherri Jarvis AKA "Walker County Jane Doe"
The battered and strangled body of an adolescent girl was found near Huntsville, Texas on November 1, 1980. She was later identified as Sherri Ann Jarvis, age 14, who had escaped from state custody in Minnesota. Witnesses mentioned she intended to visit Ellis Prison Farm—which no longer operates—though her reasons for this remain unclear. Othram initiated an investigation in mid-2020 and confirmed her identity on November 9, 2021.
Sharon Lee Gallegos AKA "Little Miss Nobody"
On July 31, 1960, the partially buried remains of a young girl were uncovered in Congress, Arizona. The death was ruled a homicide, yet the case went cold as no family members came forward. With assistance from Othram, local officials positively identified her in March 2022 as Sharon Lee Gallegos. She was last seen being abducted behind her residence on July 21, 1960.
Joyce Marilyn Meyer Sommers AKA "Christmas Tree Lady"
In December 1996, the body of a woman was discovered within the infant burial section of Pleasant Valley Memorial Park Cemetery in Annandale, Virginia, though not adjacent to any grave. Estimated to be a white female between 50 and 70 years old, standing around 5 feet tall, she had red or copper-colored hair. A plastic bag covered her head, and two fifty-dollar bills were found—one intended for the coroner and the other for the cemetery. A note left at the scene read: "Deceased by own hand...prefer no autopsy. Please order cremation with funds provided. Thank you. Jane Doe." The autopsy revealed the presence of alcohol and valium; suffocation was determined as the cause of death, with suicide suspected. She earned the nickname "Christmas Tree Lady" due to a small eight-inch Christmas tree placed beside her.
Over the years, numerous missing person reports were compared without success. A colorized sketch produced in 2000 failed to generate leads. In January 2022, Fairfax County Police forwarded evidence to Othram, which developed a genealogical profile. By May 2022, investigators identified a probable relative, confirming her identity through DNA testing of close family members.
On July 7, 2022, authorities announced that "Christmas Tree Lady" was Joyce Marilyn Meyer Sommers, born in July 1927 as the eldest of five siblings from a farm near Davenport, Iowa. It is believed she relocated to Virginia sometime after the mid-1980s. Although not reported missing at her death, family members had searched for her for years and even engaged a private investigator. Meyer did not have children.
Tracy Walker AKA "Elk Valley Jane Doe/Baby Girl"
Partial skeletal remains of a young female were located on April 3, 1985, near Big Wheel Gap Road southwest of Jellico, Tennessee. The remains were estimated to be between one and four years old at discovery and belonged to someone aged roughly 9 to 15 years.
On August 30, 2022, she was identified as Tracy Sue Walker, age 15, from Lafayette, Indiana. Othram Laboratories found a potential relative in Lafayette; analysts from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation confirmed familial ties connected to a disappearance dating back to 1978. DNA profiles submitted to CODIS enabled identification through UNTCHI.
Ruth Marie Terry AKA "Lady of the Dunes"
In 1974, authorities discovered the decomposed body of a woman in Massachusetts with missing hands and a nearly severed head; she became known as the "Lady of the Dunes." Despite chemical damage to her remains, Othram employed Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® in 2022 to establish a DNA profile. This breakthrough led the FBI to identify her as Ruth Marie Terry. In August 2023, law enforcement named her husband Guy Muldavin as her murderer and subsequently closed the investigation.
Amore Wiggins AKA "Opelika Jane Doe"
Remains belonging to a young Black girl were found in Opelika, Alabama in 2012; evidence suggested malnourishment and abuse. On January 19, 2023, Othram identified her as Amore Joveah Wiggins, age six, daughter of Navy officer Lamar Vickerstaff Jr. and Sherry Wiggins. Following identification, Lamar Vickerstaff and his wife Ruth were arrested; Lamar faces felony murder charges while Ruth is charged with failing to report a missing child.
Kerry Cummings, Known as "Torso Girl"
On October 26, 1997, a human torso was located near Eureka, California. Additional body parts connected to this individual were discovered the following year. In November 1998, serial murderer Wayne Adam Ford admitted to killing this woman along with three others; he was subsequently prosecuted, found guilty, and sentenced to death. Despite his admission, the victim's identity remained a mystery.
Through forensic genealogy and DNA profiling, Othram identified "Torso Girl" as 25-year-old Kerry Ann Cummings from Eugene, Oregon, who had an unspecified mental health condition and was known for frequently couch surfing.
Ronald Eugene Woodham IV, Also Called "Baby Boy Horry"
In 2008, a newborn male infant was discovered in Conway, South Carolina without any clues regarding his or his parents' identities.
In 2019, forensic data submitted to Othram provided investigative breakthroughs that enabled authorities to identify both the child and his parents. The mother was apprehended and charged with child abuse homicide; she later pleaded guilty to manslaughter and received a four-year prison term.
The infant was posthumously named Ronald Eugene Woodham IV by his father.
Karen Vergata, Referred to as "Fire Island Jane Doe"
On April 20, 1996, legs enclosed in a plastic bag washed up at Davis Park, New York. A skull found in 2011 near dismembered remains west of Tobay Beach was matched to these legs. Known as "Fire Island Jane Doe," the victim was suspected to be connected to the "Long Island Serial Killer" (LISK).
On August 4, 2023, Othram identified her as Karen Vergata, a 34-year-old woman from Manhattan, potentially working as an escort who vanished on February 14, 1996. Rex Heuermann has been charged with four LISK-related murders but has not been publicly implicated in this particular case.
Suzanne Kjellenberg, Also Called "Suzanne Jane Doe"
On September 15, 1994, skeletal remains of a woman were uncovered in Holt, Florida, believed to be a homicide victim. Serial killer Keith Hunter Jesperson confessed to meeting her under the name "Suzanne" at a truck stop in Tampa.
In October 2023, Othram confirmed her identity as Suzanne L. Kjellenberg, aged 34, originally from Wisconsin. Authorities intend to press charges against Jesperson in connection with this case.
Kenyatta Odom, Known as "Christmas/Waycross Jane Doe"
Four days before Christmas in 1988, a truck driver found the remains of a young child inside a TV cabinet. The victim was African American and estimated to be about three or four years old. In 2020, DNA testing by Othram combined with isotope forensic analysis suggested she likely originated from Albany, Georgia.
Approximately three years later, a tip prompted by recognition of her facial reconstruction led the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) to confirm her identity as Kenyatta Odom. Both her mother and her mother's boyfriend at that time were arrested.
Ruth Waymire, Identified as "Millie Doe"
On June 20, 1984, fishermen discovered dismembered female remains near the Spokane River. Her skull was retrieved in 1998 but did not provide new leads.
Subsequent DNA testing by Othram matched relatives from the Midwest and identified the victim as Ruth Belle Waymire, age 24 from Spokane, who had lost contact with her family in 1984. Her second spouse, Trampas D.L. Vaughn—an inmate from Iowa who died in Sacramento, California in 2017—is the sole known suspect. Investigators remain active in gathering information regarding Waymire and her family.