2A | SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 2020 | SIUSLAW NEWS
On The Record
Skeletal remains found in Gardiner in 2016 identified
After nearly four years, DNA science has identified the remains of a Eugene woman
On Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016,
at 6:20 p.m., a subject’s boat
broke down while fishing
on the Umpqua River in
the area of the former In-
ternational Paper Mill in
Gardiner.
The fisherman was able
to get his boat to shore.
While gathering wood for
a fire, the fisherman found
what he believed to be hu-
man bones along the river-
bank.
In November 2016, the
Douglas County Sheriff ’s
Office released the prelim-
inary findings of an exam-
ination of the re-mains by
Oregon State Medical Ex-
aminer Forensic Anthro-
pologist, Dr. Nici Vance,
who determined the re-
mains to be that of a Cauca-
sian female, likely between
the ages of 30 to 55 at the
time of her death.
Due to the advanced
state of decomposition of
Genelle McDaniel
the partial remains, phys-
ical characteristics such as
height, weight, hair col-
or, eye color and ethnicity
were unknown at the time.
It was determined that the
female had been deceased
between one to three years.
The Medical Examiner’s
investigation continued and
included attempts to make
identification through the
use of DNA and dental re-
cords.
In 2018, an extensive
two-part news story was
conducted by KMTR, but
no viable tips were generat-
ed as a result of that story.
In November 2019, a
private laboratory DNA
Solutions, produced a new
type of DNA profile and
compared it to the public
family genealogy website,
GEDMatch. Subsequently,
a probable familial DNA
match was identified.
The Douglas County
Medical Examiner’s Office
followed up on the newly
obtained information and
contacted the family mem-
ber of the unidentified per-
son.
Through the investi-
gation, the remains were
identified as those belong-
ing to Genelle McDaniel,
a resident of Eugene, Ore.,
who was born in 1954.
McDaniel had not been
previously reported to law
enforcement as a missing
person.
The follow-up investi-
gation revealed circum-
stantial information which
leads investigators to be-
lieve McDaniel’s death was
likely the result of suicide.
This case involved an ex-
tensive amount of work on
behalf of several organiza-
tions.
“Being able to identify
Genelle and provide her
family with some answers
is the goal we have been
working toward,” said Craig
Kinney, Douglas County’s
Chief Medicolegal Death
Investigator.
Dr. Nici Vance added
that it was the agency’s
hope to “…bring resolution
to families in these cases.
With new DNA technology
and collaboration, the ef-
forts of many people finally
gave this mystery woman a
name. Our condolences go
out to the family of Genelle
McDaniel.”
LCPH reports first case of bat rabies in Lane County for 2020
Lane County Public
Health (LCPH) was noti-
fied of a positive case of ra-
bies in a bat.
A South Eugene resident
was in their yard around 9
p.m. when a bat flew direct-
ly into that person. The bat
was stunned by the impact
and fell to the ground. The
individual gathered the bat
and reported the incident
to LCPH.
The bat was sent to the
Oregon State Veterinary
Lab for testing where the
presence of rabies was de-
tected.
“This is the first case of
bat rabies in 2020 and a
good reminder to stay away
from bats,” said Emilio De-
Bess, DVM, state public
health veterinarian at the
Oregon Health Authori-
ty Public Health Division.
“Also, it is a good remind-
er to keep your pets vacci-
nated for rabies to protect
them and your family.”
The individual who had
contact with the bat re-
ceived the rabies post-ex-
posure prophylaxis treat-
ment as a preventative
measure.
Rabies in bats has been
documented in 49 states
and is endemic in Oregon’s
bat population.
Recent data suggest that
transmission of the rabies
virus can occur from mi-
nor, seemingly unimport-
ant or unrecognized bites
from bats.
In all instances of po-
tential human exposures
involving bats, the bat in
question should be safely
collected (if possible) and
submitted for rabies diag-
nosis. Safe collection means
not actually handling the
bat, but rather using a
utensil to pick the bat up
and place it a safe contain-
er which cannot be punc-
tured, then immediately
report it to LCPH.
Rabies
postex-posure
prophylaxis is recommend-
ed for all persons with a
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important
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bite, scratch or mucous
membrane exposure to a
bat, unless the bat is avail-
able for testing and is neg-
ative for evidence of rabies.
It is important to note
that bats are a critical
part of the ecosystem and
should not be targeted or
proactively killed.
To prevent exposure to
bats in both humans and
animals, LCPH recom-
mends being aware that
bats’ primary feeding time
is at dusk.
Raccoons, skunks and
foxes are particularly sus-
ceptible as carriers, al-
though any mammal can
get and carry rabies.
BIRTHS
COSTA—Jameson
Edward Costa, a male
weighing 7 lbs. 1.9 ozs.
and measuring 19.75
inches, was born to
Cynthia and Nick Cos-
ta of Florence on June
3, 2020.
E N G L I SH — L e n -
non Thomas English,
a male weighing 8 lbs.
6 ozs. and measuring
21.25 inches, was born
to Terra Shoeneman
and Stefan English of
Florence on June 4,
2020.
WEATHER DATA
D ATE
H IGH
L OW
R AIN
June 2
June 3
June 4
June 5
June 6
June 7
June 8
65
62
64
59
53
56
60
40
42
41
45
46
42
43
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
1.33
0.18
0.05
Rainfall Week: 1.56”
Month: 1.56” Year: 40.64”
Courtesy of Roger Cunningham
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