The human remains of 36-year-old Matthew Aaron Wensel, who has been missing since August 2007, were discovered along the Susquehanna River on Sept. 13.
Around 2:30 p.m., a hiker first uncovered the man’s jawbone, and later that day, the police found a pelvic bone and leg bone. Although the bones were located within close proximity of each other near the shopping plaza of Talbot’s, a full skeleton was never obtained.
At the time of the discovery, it was difficult to determine who the remains belonged to. However, Dawnie Wolfe Steadman, an associate professor of anthropology at Binghamton University, helped to identify who the person was.
Steadman used her knowledge of biological sciences to help identify the bones.
“To identify a missing person we need postmortem and antemortem information,” Steadman said.
In other words, a record of the individual’s anatomical information while they were living and the amount of time that lapsed since the individual’s death are needed.
According to Sgt. Jerry Kushner of Binghamton’s New York State University Police, the case is closed because of the condition of the bones.
“All we had to work with were a few skeletal remains,” he said.
With only bones and not even the entire skeleton to examine, the cause of death is still unknown.
Kushner stated that there is no apparent indication of foul play at this point.
Steadman, who specializes in biological anthropology, also works in the branch-off division specified as forensic anthropology.
While Steadman could not disclose any specific information about her involvement in the case, she is frequently called in for investigations.
“A forensic anthropologist is called in when the remains are unrecognizable, decomposed, burnt or fragmented beyond recognition,” Steadman said. “In general I could get called by a forensic pathologist, medical examiner or coroner or I could be called to a case by an attorney.”
Steadman, certified by the American Board of Forensic Anthropology, also works with an on-campus group known as the Volunteer Archaeological Survey Team (VAST), composed of professional and student archaeologists who investigate police cases similar to Wensel’s.
According to Steadman, being able to help families find out what happened to a loved one is what she enjoys most about her field work.
Steadman has a master’s and Ph.D. in anthropology and has also worked on projects that involve identifying victims of war.
Services were held in Wensel’s honor on Saturday, Sept. 19 at the New Life Family Ministries located on Hill Avenue.
— Chelsea McGovern contributed to this article.