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Philadelphia police exhume 8 bodies from a potter's field in the hope DNA testing can help ID them

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Philadelphia police exhume 8 bodies from a potter's field in the hope DNA testing can help ID them
News

News

Philadelphia police exhume 8 bodies from a potter's field in the hope DNA testing can help ID them

2024-09-26 06:27 Last Updated At:06:31

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Investigators in Philadelphia are exhuming samples from eight bodies buried in a potter's field this week in the hope that advances in DNA-based sleuthing can help them identify the long-ago victims and perhaps learn how they died.

The victims include a 4- to 6-year-old girl found dead in 1962, an infant boy found in 1983 and three men and three women found between 1972 and 1984.

“When there is an ID, it is satisfying to be able to give that information to the family, to give that closure to the family. Your loved one is now identified,” said Ryan Gallagher, assistant director of the Philadelphia Police Department’s forensics unit.

The dig is the latest task in the city’s long-running effort to identify its unknown dead, who were buried at the small field in northeast Philadelphia through the late 1980s. Detectives will now work with genetic genealogists, the city Medical Examiner’s Office, the FBI and others to piece together the mystery of who they are and how they died. Some of the work, in Philadelphia and elsewhere, is being funded through federal grants.

And they have cause for optimism, after scientific breakthroughs in recent years led them to identify the city’s most famous unclaimed victim, long known as “America’s Unknown Child” or “ The Boy in the Box.” The small child, whose battered body was found inside a cardboard box in 1957, was identified in late 2022 after decades of work as 4-year-old Joseph Augustus Zarelli. Investigators have some theories on how he died, but so far have not announced any conclusive findings.

That case followed a string of cold cases that were re-examined and sometimes solved around the country, including the Golden State Killer, through advancements in genetic genealogy.

Joseph’s body had also been buried in the city-owned potter’s field until those devoted to the case moved him to a featured spot just inside Ivy Hill Cemetery, under a weeping cherry tree. Last year, they dedicated a new headstone with his name and picture on it on his 70th birthday.

Police hold out hope they can do the same one day for the eight victims included in their current project, who all died in violent or suspicious ways. If they can find family members through DNA tracing, they will ask if they can help piece the story together.

Homicide Lt. Thomas Walsh, speaking from the potter's field Tuesday, said it's rewarding to see “the relief on the people’s faces when you can sit down in their living room and tell them, ’Hey, this is your loved one, that’s been missing for 30, 40 years.'”

“Of course, it’s tragic, the way it ended, but the relief is there, that they finally know this is my loved one and this is where they’re at,” he said.

Solving cold cases is a yearslong pursuit that mixes art with science.

“There's always that eureka moment,” Walsh said.

“Not everything’s cellular devices and video cameras,” he said. “Sometimes it takes good old-fashioned police work to bring a case in.”

Philadelphia Police, FBI and forensic specialists work to exhume bodies at Parkwood Soccer Field/Potters Field for DNA-based testing in Philadelphia, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. (Jose F. Moreno/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)

Philadelphia Police, FBI and forensic specialists work to exhume bodies at Parkwood Soccer Field/Potters Field for DNA-based testing in Philadelphia, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. (Jose F. Moreno/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers wasn't sure it was a good thing that Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 22 of the team's 24 first-quarter points on Wednesday night.

But Rivers could smile about it after Antetokounmpo finished with 59 points in the Bucks' 127-120 overtime victory against the Detroit Pistons. It was the highest total by any NBA player this season and five short of Antetokounmpo's career high of 64 set last season against the Indiana Pacers.

“I've seen a lot of great games as a player. Sitting next to Dominique (Wilkins) you obviously see a lot of great games," Rivers said, referring to his former Atlanta Hawks teammate. "It's funny how a coach thinks, though. We called a timeout and Giannis has 22 of our 24. This ain't good. I'm thinking the exact opposite. We've got to get somebody else involved in this.

“After the game, you realize how special this is. But during the game you're in a panic."

Antetokounmpo, who made 21 of 34 shots from the field and 16 of 17 free throws while adding 14 rebounds and seven assists, said he is striving to find the right balance as the 4-8 Bucks try to dig out of an early season hole.

They played Wednesday without point guard Damian Lillard, Khris Middleton and forward Bobby Portis because of injuries.

“Coming into this game I realized I have to be aggressive,” Antetokounmpo said. "While I was doing that, it was not working. We were down by 15, 18.

“In the second half, I had to keep my aggressiveness but keep on moving the ball. Now as a leader, you keep on going with that energy and mentality. Sometimes you've got to be able to do both.”

Brook Lopez added 29 points and Taurean Prince, Andre Jackson Jr. and Gary Trent Jr. contribututed to Milwaukee's rally.

Antetokounmpo was whistled for a foul with one second left in regulation and the score tied at 111, but Pistons forward Ron Holland II missed two free throws. That gave the Bucks a reprieve and they took advantage with a quick 8-0 run to open overtime, punctuated by a 3-pointer from Antetokounmpo.

“He has no quit in him,” Lopez said. “Just to be able to watch it the last seven years, to see the way he was tonight. I'm still seeing new stuff.”

Detroit's Isaiah Stewart was called for a flagrant foul 2 and ejected when he tugged Antetokounmpo down by the jersey late in the third quarter. That play proved pivotal as the Bucks outscored the Pistons 38-24 in the quarter and erased an 18-point deficit.

“I've been in that position many times in my life,” Antetokounmpo said. "I have two older brothers that pushed me on the floor, were tough on me. It doesn't really faze me anymore. All I could think about was ‘get up and make two free throws.’

“At the same time it's a dangerous play. It's not a basketball play.”

Antetokounmpo said he gave his teammates a brief speech before the game.

“The first year I came to the Bucks (in 2013-14), we were one of the worst teams in the NBA,” he said. "I was able to get a lot of opportunity and I was able to develop. Guys are missing right now. Instead of thinking Dame's not here, Khris is not here, Bobby is not playing, we should be thinking Andre (Jackson) is going to play, AJ (Green) is going to play.

“Don't take this moment for granted. All you can do is compete and you hope that your teammates follow.”

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo shoots past Detroit Pistons' Jalen Duren during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo shoots past Detroit Pistons' Jalen Duren during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Detroit Pistons' Isaiah Stewart pulls down Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Milwaukee. Stewart was ejected from the game. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Detroit Pistons' Isaiah Stewart pulls down Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Milwaukee. Stewart was ejected from the game. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo dunks during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo dunks during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

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