WA WA- Thurston County, Lacey, in field, Meadows Elementary School, John Doe#UP8888, skeletal, 30 April,2009, DNA-Donald Myrel Nelson, born April, 1960.

[dotr]

rbbm.

After 16 Years, Thurston County John Doe (2009) is Identified

King County Medical Examiner's Office and Thurston County Sheriff's Office Team with Othram to Identify a 2009 John Doe

dnasolves.com

''On April 30, 2009, human remains were discovered in a field near Meadows Elementary School in Lacey, Washington. The remains were determined to be skeletal and were found with Levi’s jeans, boxer shorts, and knee-high white athletic socks bearing a green Nike logo. Despite the recovery of clothing and the application of traditional forensic methods, authorities were unable to identify the unknown man. A DNA profile was developed and searched in CODIS, but no matches were found. The case was entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP8888 on June 29, 2011, and remained open.

In February 2025, Thurston County Sheriff's Office, in collaboration with the King County Medical Examiner's Office submitted skeletal remains from the unknown man to Othram, in The Woodlands, Texas a forensic sequencing laboratory specializing in human identification from the most challenge forensic inputs, such as degraded skeletal remains. ''

"Critical funding to enable forensic genetic genealogy testing in this case was made possible by Governor Ferguson, Attorney General Nick Brown, and the Washington State Legislature. We are so grateful for their support in providing this funding.

A follow up investigation by law enforcement ultimately led to the identification of the unknown man as Donald Myrel Nelson. Born on April 18, 1960, Nelson had been reported missing to the Lacey Police Department in February 1989, just weeks before his 29th birthday. His family cooperated closely with investigators throughout the identification process and has been formally notified of the outcome. His disappearance had gone unresolved for over 35 years.''

 

[summergirl1]

It's interesting that it took 20 years to find his remains in the first place, and that his remaining clothing at that time sounds like it was well preserved.

 

[3llecia]

More interesting, a Donald Myrel Nelson is mentioned in the Vallejo Cali’s Times-Herald (Thur 9 October 1980).

 

[Claireishere]

Cases like this frustrate me because I have so many questions. Reported missing and located in Lacey but just now identified? How would it take that long to find remains in a field by a school? The original missing persons report? The guy he was charged in the crime with was that his step brother? Cause of death?

 

[summergirl1]

The newspaper clipping certainly seems to shed some indirect light on why he became a John Doe years later. I do wonder why it took so long to find his remains. Could it be they were somewhere else for awhile? Some place clothes he was wearing would be better preserved?

 

[3llecia]

There’s a few more mentions of DMN in the years leading up to 1989, mainly traffic violations. I note he was living in Washington 86-87

 

[summergirl1]

Given that he was reported missing locally in 1989, I would assume that if his remains had been found at the time, or even somewhat closer in time than 20 years later, that he would have been identified.

 

[The4TierBridge]

#UP8888 is still up for the time being (I archived it at the Wayback Machine as well). The body was estimated to belong to a 30-50 year old man who was thought to have died between 1999-2008, but most likely around 2 years before being found.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

 

[summergirl1]

Since the time he was supposed to have died was off by ten years at the earliest, that may (probably?) have contributed further to him not being identified until genetic genealogy was done.

 

[victoriarobinson642]

Since the time he was supposed to have died was off by ten years at the earliest, that may (probably?) have contributed further to him not being identified until genetic genealogy was done.

I have to wonder how they came to that conclusion. That outfit seems like it could've been worn at any point from 1980 - today.

 

[summergirl1]

It seems the possibly well preserved condition of his clothing may have contributed to that conclusion. Why was it so well preserved? Also, they may have thought the remains couldn't have been in a perhaps obvious location-a field by a school- for a long time (or longer time than ten years). Perhaps his remains were indeed not there for 20 years..

 

[SluethinAway]

Thurston County now asking for the publics assistance.

Human remains found in 2009 identified through DNA technology - The JOLT News Organization, a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit

The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public for information related to the disappearance of Donald Myrel Nelson, following the identification ...

www.thejoltnews.com

'investigators say questions remain about the circumstances'

 

[3llecia]

I was curious about what happened with the attempted murder trial.

April 21, 1981, the Time-Herald reports Mark Edwin Bower was found not guilty by a Superior Court jury. He served six months and paid $500 for assault.

Donald was not charged as he became a prosecution witness, saying Bower inflicted the stab wounds on the victim. Charges were not brought against Donald while Bower’s case was on trial. I doubt they eventuated considering the outcome.

The judge was displeased by the jury, stating he believed there was enough evidence to find Bower guilty of attempted murder.

The victim did not testify at the trial because his memories of the assault had required hypnotherapy sessions, which is apparently inadmissible.

All this to say, I doubt Bower was happy about Donald assisting the prosecution’s case against him…