“Laid to rest”: Forensic Service Pushes to Identify Remains Dating Back to 1998

One Belizean family has already been reunited with the remains of a missing loved one, and forensic officials expect three more identifications within the next two months.

The National Forensic Science Service (NFSS) is working through roughly twenty sets of unidentified skeletal remains, some dating back to 1998, matching them to relatives through DNA testing, archival research and public outreach.

“Since we started the project, recently we were able to hand over one set of skeletal remains to the next of kin through our representative. In the next month or two we’re expecting DNA results to come back for about three additional cases that we have already over the past few months sent abroad for testing,” said Executive Director Gian Cho.

Cho added that the project focuses specifically on skeletal remains already in the agency’s possession, not open missing person reports without recovered remains.

“These are persons, their right to be recognised as a missing person, their right to be treated with dignity, and the right of their family members to be able to be reunited with their loved ones so that they can be laid to rest is the ultimate priority for us,” Cho said.

The National Forensic Science Service is calling on Belizeans with missing family members to come forward with crucial information that could help identify the remains of their loved ones.