By Order of the Coroner to excavate gravesite and recover specimen(s) Philip Bianchi Harlan County Coroner P.O. Box 148 Harlan, Kentucky 40831 (1) Associated Case Numbers: (Unidentified Human Remains) • • • • • Kentucky State Medical Examiner - #FA-2009-54 Kentucky State Police - Case No. 10-9297 Kentucky Certificate of Death - File 116 69 13881 NamUs - #UP5880 NCMEC – #TA 1131331 (2) Action of Order – to excavate into a known, marked grave containing the casketed remains of an unidentified white female, for the purpose of recovering a tissue sample (bone) to be submitted for DNA analysis 1. This procedure is ordered in an attempt to identify the human remains, currently interred, by comparison with DNA samples from person(s) 2 whom have expressed a reason to believe the remains may be those of a relative. If not matched, the results of the analysis will be registered with a national database 3 for future comparisons in an attempt to identify the remains. (3) Authority of Order – based on KRS Chapter 72 Section 440, “Circumstances under which coroner may order body exhumed”; while this scenario doesn’t fit “word-for-word” with the statute, the intent appears to encompass cases such as this one: the cause of death in this case is by multiple stab wounds, with the manner of death being homicide. One missing element of the investigation of this case is the identity of the deceased, which is the primary purpose of this order. Page 2 of 6 (4) Brief Case History – On June 2, 1969, the decomposing human remains of a white, young adult female were discovered along Little Shepherd Trail on top of Pine Mountain in Harlan County, Kentucky. It was estimated that she had been dead “at least two or three weeks” 4 . It was determined that she died as a result of “stab wound(s) of the chest” 4 . The body was discovered by Mr. Rueben Rice of Cumberland, KY. A murder investigation was launched by the Kentucky State Police Post 10 in Harlan. The late Phillip J. Begley, M.D. was the Harlan County Coroner at the time. (5) Biological Profile – A description was given that she was “about 20 years of age, five feet three inches tall, of medium build (110 – 114 lbs.) with reddish-blond hair. Scar on right leg midway between knee and thigh; scar three inches above right knee; another possible scar of right leg; several missing teeth documented, some possibly extracted by dentist” 4 . Dental information was forwarded to the American Dental Association and published in the August 1969 issue of JADA. Page 3 of 6 (6) Location of Interred Remains – Disposition of the casketed remains was made by interment at the Harlan Gas Cemetery in the Fairview section of the City of Harlan. Those arrangements were handled by the late Mr. Joe Mahan of (former) Colonial Chapel Funeral Home in Harlan. The grave site is marked with a temporary gravemarker supplied by the funeral home 4 . Property identification (cemetery location) is found on Map 82-2 at the Harlan County PVA Office. Property owner is listed as Cumberland-Harlan Exploration Corp., Box 311, Ages-Brookside, Kentucky. (7) Proposed Excavation Procedures – It is proposed that the grave space described above will be excavated by hand, performed by investigating personnel (coroner, medical examiner, police) utilizing common tools designed for such work (pick and shovel). The area and all procedures will be documented by photograph and/or video, and written notations, from beginning to conclusion. It is proposed to dig in “stair step” fashion into the grave and to access an area of the remains (to be) determined by medical examiner staff as best suited for required tissue specimen. The excavation will take place as soon as practical after the date of this order. Page 4 of 6 (8) Agencies to Participate – The following agencies/resources will be invited to take part in the excavation: a) Harlan County Coroner b) Kentucky State Medical Examiner c) Kentucky State Police d) National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) e) others as deemed necessary Order given this 20th day of November, 2014. _____________________________________ Philip Bianchi Coroner of Harlan County, Kentucky Page 5 of 6 Notes 1) Specimen analysis for DNA to be provided for by National Missing Persons Program, University of North Texas Center for Human Identification, 3500 Camp Bowie, Fort Worth, TX 76107. 2) A notarized affidavit is a part of the coroner’s case file. The person(s) mentioned requests to remain anonymous until the results of the analysis are completed. 3) NamUs – National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs.gov) 4) Information was derived from medico-legal documents and investigation reports. 5) The original grave marker was removed and replaced with a newer one by Darla Jackson of Mount Pleasant Funeral Home. Page 6 of 6