Missing Son’s Parents Both Died Never Knowing What Happened to Him. Police Just Discovered His Remains by a Bridge

Skeletal remains discovered more than three decades ago in Oregon have been identified as those of Bryant Edward Deane, a man from Massachusetts who disappeared in the early 1990s.

In a statement released Monday, Oct. 13, the Oregon State Police (OSP) confirmed that the remains belonged to Deane, who was about 39 at the time of his death, according to the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office.

“This case was cold for 33 years,” said forensic anthropologist Hailey Collord-Stalder. “Bryant’s parents passed in 2017 and 2019, never knowing what happened to their son. His family left a space for him on their headstone; now he can finally be laid to rest with his family.”

Discovery Under the St. Johns Bridge

On Aug. 17, 1992, workers clearing brush near the St. Johns Bridge in North Portland found human skeletal remains. Investigators estimated the remains were those of a white male around 50 years old, standing between 5 feet 2 inches and 5 feet 5 inches tall.

The bones showed signs of arthritis, several fractures, and a significant difference in leg length—suggesting the man walked with a limp. It was believed he had been deceased for about a year before discovery.

Investigators noted that the fractures were worse on the left side, leading to theories that he may have fallen or been struck by a vehicle before falling from the bridge.

The man’s clothing included a maroon fleece-lined jacket, dark denim pants, MacGregor brand ankle boots, and gloves, suggesting he died in winter. Brown hair was found near the remains, and dental examination revealed restorative dental work.

Despite extensive investigation, authorities could not determine the man’s identity or cause of death, and the case went cold for decades.

Breakthrough Through Genetic Genealogy

As advancements in genetic genealogy emerged, OSP continued to revisit the case. In 2023, they partnered with the nonprofit DNA Doe Project, which volunteered to assist using advanced DNA analysis.

“While our initial impression was that this case could be quite straightforward, we quickly realized that was not the case,” said project team leader Eric Hendershott. “Misattributed parentage events and pedigree collapse in New England families made this quite the challenge.”

The team built a massive family tree of nearly 20,000 people, tracing connections to a couple who married in 1951 in Northfield, Massachusetts. Their research revealed that one of their children, Bryant Deane, had seemingly vanished from public records.

Investigators reached out to Deane’s presumed brother, who provided a DNA sample. Genetic comparison confirmed that the remains were indeed those of Bryant Edward Deane, born Aug. 2, 1952.

Closure After Decades

“This was a case where one small DNA match helped fill in the connections that our higher matches could not,” said Jeana Feehery of the DNA Doe Project. “It shows how even distant relatives can help bring closure to unidentified cases.”

Authorities have since notified Deane’s surviving relatives and the Portland Police Bureau. After 33 years, Bryant Edward Deane will finally be laid to rest alongside his family.