The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office reached a remarkable breakthrough by working with Intermountain Forensics and the Coconino County Office of the Medical Examiner in successfully identifying human remains found in 2019 as belonging to Mark Austin Dunne, a man who was reported missing from Phoenix in 2017.
On November 2, 2019, a hiker stumbled upon the skeletal remains of the deceased in a heavily wooded area at the base of Mt. Elden near Flagstaff. Primary efforts by investigators were unsuccessful, as identification appeared to be impossible, leaving the case to go cold for several years.
In August 2023, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office contracted with Intermountain Forensics of Salt Lake City, Utah, to apply forensic genetic genealogy techniques to the remains. This groundbreaking method involves creating a DNA profile from the remains and comparing it with existing profiles in available genealogy databases. In this case, investigators hoped to identify the remains through familial connections. Intermountain Forensics developed a DNA profile from the remains and found matches within existing genealogy databases.
By February 2024, investigators had identified Mark Austin Dunne as a potential match. To support this conclusion, a DNA sample from the remains was compared with samples from the deceased’s family members. A positive identification from the University of North Texas coupled with detective work from Coconino County confirmed the remains were indeed those of Mark Austin Dunne.
Mark Austin Dunne had been reported missing to the Phoenix Police Department in March 2017 after he failed to contact his family for an extended period. Further investigation revealed he had likely been camping in the Flagstaff area for an extended period. However, the details regarding the exact time of his arrival in the area remain unknown. Evidence at the scene did not provide any definitive evidence about the cause of his death, which remains a mystery.
Sheriff’s Office officials extended their deepest condolences to the family of Mark Austin Dunne, who have requested privacy during this difficult time. The closure provided by this identification hopefully brings some resolution to Dunne’s family after years of uncertainty.
Collaborative efforts between multiple agencies were the key to the identification of Dunne’s remains and serves as a notable reminder of the power of new forensic developments. By leveraging advanced DNA technology and comprehensive genealogy databases, investigators can solve long-standing cases that traditional methods cannot.
The successful identification of Mark Austin Dunne highlights the potential of these techniques to bring closure to families and aid law enforcement in solving cold cases. As forensic genetic genealogy continues to evolve, it promises to be an invaluable tool in the field of criminal justice, offering new avenues for identifying unknown remains and bringing long-awaited answers to grieving families.
