Probable Identification from a Single Innominate Caught on a Fishing Hook

This forensic anthropology case report involves an osteological examination of a single innominate bone caught by a fisherman while fishing on an ocean pier. The bone was skeletonized, odoriferous, with adherent barnacles; and it was determined to be from a young adult human male, about 24 or 25 to 29 years of age at the time of death. The main focus of the investigation was to ascertain whether or not the bone could have belonged to one of two missing individuals-one of whom was missing for five years (aged 18 years at the time of the missing persons report, but who could conceivably have been 23 years old if death occurred four months before the bone's recovery) and the other who was witnessed to have drowned about four months prior to the discovery of the bone, and who was 25 years old at the time of death. This case is meaningful inasmuch as a significant amount of information could be gleaned from this one postcranial bone leading to a probable identification, whereas typically the best outcome for identification is derived from the recovery and analysis of nearly complete skeletal remains, especially if the skull/dentition is included. Presently, mtDNA results are pending; it is hopeful that the outcome will support a positive identification and closure to the case.