21-Year-Old Cold Case Solved: Detroit Man Identified Through Genetic Genealogy

James Raymond Stewart, missing since 2002, was identified after his remains were found in Ontario in 2003, providing long-awaited closure for his family.

• James Raymond Stewart, a Detroit resident who went missing in November 2002, was identified through genetic genealogy after his body was found in May 2003 near Amherstburg, Ontario.
• The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) used investigative genetic genealogy in 2023 to make a presumptive identification, which was confirmed by a family member's DNA in September 2024.
• Stewart's family, who had been searching for answers for over two decades, visited his gravesite for the first time in late 2024 after his identity was confirmed.
• Authorities determined the cause of death to be undetermined but stated that foul play is not suspected in Stewart's death.
• The case highlights the growing use of genetic genealogy in solving cold cases, with the OPP resolving two cases in 2024 using this advanced investigative tool.

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