Aiexpress – The body of Edward Anthony Nece, whose father lives in Riverside, NJ, was identified using DNA evidence, Bensalem police said on Monday, February 19.
On October 19, 2003, fishermen discovered Nece’s body in a drainage area on the Yellow Freight property at 2627 State Road. Nece had no identification at the time, and his description did not correspond to any missing person reports in the area.
An autopsy revealed that the cause of death was drowning; however, the method of death could not be determined. Partial fingerprints were obtained, but they did not match any known fingerprints in the national database, so DNA samples were requested.
Nece was buried in Doylestown Cemetery while efforts to identify him proceeded. Over the next 19 years, Bensalem police searched for the unnamed individual in numerous missing person reports, but were unsuccessful.
In December 2022, Bensalem police received hair samples from the Bucks County Coroner’s Office that had been collected during autopsies. These samples were then sent to a private laboratory, where a DNA profile was successfully obtained. This development brought a glimmer of hope to the investigation.
The non-profit organization Cold Case Initiative stepped in and provided funding for an investigative genetic genealogy search of public DNA databases by a skilled genealogist.
During the search and subsequent investigation, investigators had the opportunity to speak with Edward Nece, who happens to be Edward Anthony Nece’s father.
In a shocking revelation, on October 19, 2023, precisely two decades after the body’s discovery, Nece informed investigators that his son, Edward Anthony Nece, had not been in contact for the past 20 years.
Nece’s DNA sample was provided and then compared to the DNA recovered from his son’s body. The DNA match unequivocally confirmed that the unidentified male was indeed Nece’s son.
“We want to acknowledge the dedicated work of the detectives from the Bensalem Township Police Department and the Cold Case Initiative partnership,” stated the BPD. “Thanks to their assistance, the family of Edward Anthony Nece no longer has to wonder about the fate of their beloved.”
The Cold Case Initiative is a nonprofit organization that provides financial assistance to agencies in order to solve cold cases, violent crimes, missing persons cases, and unidentified decedents. They utilize investigative genetic genealogy services to aid in their investigations. If you would like to contribute to this crucial cause and support the efforts in helping families find their missing loved ones.
