Recording an unidentified body

[Elliven]

In 1987 the body of a WW2 airman was found in a peat bog in Yorkshire.  It was kept above ground for about 4 months before being re-interred.  What I would like to know is how the eventual burial would be recorded and how long the Police would be legally required to keep records of their investigations into the identity of the body.  Many thanks

[Rosinish]

Do you know for sure the body wasn't later identified prior to burial?

Annie

[Ruskie]

These days DNA would be taken prior to re-burial. Would that also have been the case in 1987?

Was there anything on the body to determine where he was from? (eg was he British, German etc)

[Rosinish]

A bit about it here;

http://ww2talk.com/index.php?threads/ww2-airmans-body-found-on-hatfield-moor-in-1987.73043/

"There were no dogtags or other means of identification so it was buried with a "Known to God" headstone"

Annie

[Ruskie]

Thanks Annie. Very interesting. I find it amazing that there is so much unknown about the circumstances of this discovery even though it occurred relatively recently.

I think a DNA test would/might be able to match this man with living relatives as they seem to have an idea who he might be. It would be a simple process if they did take a DNA sample.

[Rosinish]

Ruskie,

Did you read all the input?

The OP (on my link) seems to have a good idea of who the chap was i.e. he's obviously done a lot of investigating/research himself possibly like the people we see on here looking for families of deceased war victims?

The chap was buried soon after being found & you would think DNA in that era may have been taken?

I think from reading the story it may be ongoing but the 'Investigator' (OP) hasn't contacted the family he believes are related as he's needing/wanting more solid proof.

Annie

[Ruskie]

Yes I did Annie. 

Although he says he wants to be sure before contacting the family, surely it would just be easier to use DNA to confirm? I realize he would not want to get their hopes up or be wrong in his supposition, but I don’t think there is anything to lose by telling them there is a chance their relative has been found, and would they mind taking a DNA test as a way to prove or disprove his theory.

[familydar]

Although we have become very blase about DNA, the human genome wasn't sequenced till 2003 (wikipedia).  So nobody would have thought of sampling the body in 1987 and to do so now would involve disinterment.

Jane :-)

[avm228]

Although we have become very blase about DNA, the human genome wasn't sequenced till 2003 (wikipedia).  So nobody would have thought of sampling the body in 1987 and to do so now would involve disinterment.

Jane :-)

Forensic DNA profiling was first used in the 1980s, long before the whole human genome was sequenced.  The first UK conviction based on it was in 1988 (Colin Pitchfork) but the science had been developing for a few years by then.