David C. Corak was a man who was discovered in the Olympic National Forest, Washington.
Four decades later, he was identified after his sister recognized a resemblance to his facial reconstruction. His identity was confirmed through DNA testing in late 2015, and his name was released in January 2016.
Case[]
On October 1, 1975, a skeleton was discovered in the Olympic National Forest, about six to nine months after he died from a gunshot to his head by a .22 caliber rifle, which was near the remains. His death was ruled a suicide based on the fact that the firearm was propped up with a stick, with a string fastened to the trigger. Clothing that appeared to have been purchased shortly before his death, footwear, a comb, a pocket knife, and many unfired bullets were also recovered from the scene. The only known physical details about the decedent consisted of a spinal condition that possibly affected how he walked and that his foot size was 11 1/2.
The possibility of foul play was mentioned by investigators in 2009 after an examination revealed the likely back problems he suffered. Because of the discomfort it would have caused, the twelve-mile distance from a highway leading to the site, and that a vehicle was not close to the decedent, the manner of his death was reconsidered, although it is unknown if a new ruling occurred.
As he had unique and "fine" dental work, investigators attempted initially to identify the man by requesting dentists in the state and later the country to compare the charting to their patients. No suitable matches were discovered. Artist Natalie Murry created the forensic artwork for his case in 2001, which she later revised digitally to correct the distortion caused by initially photographing her sketches. A DNA sample was later successfully developed for comparisons to missing people.
Identification[]
After a detective reviewed the file and released his reconstruction in an effort to resolve the case, an Alaskan woman alerted police that her missing brother, David Corak, resembled the reconstruction. DNA was later used to confirm that both men were the same person.
Gallery[]
Sources[]
- KIRO 7 News
- Puget Sound Blog
- Natalie Murry
- PTLeader
- The News Tribune