ANCHORAGE, ALASKA — The remains of a man found on Fire Island just west of Anchorage in 1989 have been identified through DNA and genomic sequencing, the Alaska State trooper said Wednesday.
The soldiers identified the victim as Michael Allison Beavers, the owner of a excavation business in Chugiak. He was reported missing in 1980.
The decades-long investigation began when human remains were discovered on July 24, 1989. An autopsy concluded it was a white male between the ages of 35 and 50 and evidence found found on the remains indicated that the death was criminal, the soldiers said. Officials said it appeared the remains had been lying on the beach for at least a year, but the date of death could not be determined.
A DNA profile entered into the national database of missing persons in 2003 found no matches.
Earlier this year, the Alaska Bureau of Investigation’s Cold Case Unit reopened the case. The bone samples retained in the case were sent to a private laboratory, where DNA was extracted and genome sequencing was used to create a comprehensive DNA profile.
That was uploaded to a genealogical database and linked to others, including some with ties to Alaska. Later, a DNA sample taken from a close relative confirmed the Beavers’ identity.
Beaver’s spouse reported that he was missing two months after he was last seen alive, in November 1979.
Beaver, 40, left home in Chugiak to go to Seattle by car to contact a business partner. He never came, the soldiers said.
The investigation into his disappearance stalled and ended in 1982. Ten years later, he was declared dead.
Soldiers said the investigation into his death continues, and anyone with information about his disappearance and death should contact authorities.
In October, soldiers were able to use the same method to identify Robin Peleky, one of the unidentified victims of serial killer Robert Hansen in Alaska, who was killed in the head. the 1980s.
Hansen kidnapped women, many of them prostitutes, off the streets of Anchorage, and hunted them down in the northern Anchorage wilderness. In total, 12 bodies have been found and 11 of them have been identified, military spokesman Austin McDaniel told The Associated Press in October.
The only unidentified person known only to be Eklutna Annie, who is believed to be Hansen’s first victim, McDaniel said. Her body was found near Lake Eklutna in northern Anchorage.
Randy McPherron, a cold case investigator with the Alaska State Army, said in October that pedigree efforts were underway in hopes of determining her identity.
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