Human Remains Found in Southern Oregon Identified as Teen Missing Since 1974

JOSEPHINE COUNTY, Ore. — The discovery of human bones found by loggers near Williams, an unincorporated community in southeastern Josephine County, has finally led to the identification as those of 19-year-old Mark Smith.

Mark, from Billings, Montana, went missing in 1974. His partial remains were found by loggers four years later. However, the lack of DNA testing led a forensic pathologist and odontologist to the mistaken conclusion that the skeletal remains were those of a girl aged between 16 and 18.

The case went cold for more than 40 years before the Oregon Medical Examiner’s Office decided to take advantage of new technology in an attempt at an identification.

The bones were sent for DNA extraction to a laboratory in Texas, which established the true identity as that of Mark Smith.