Skeletal Remains Found on Beach Identified as Former Mayor Who Vanished 20 Years Ago and Was Declared Legally Dead

Authorities and a DNA laboratory confirmed that skeletal remains found on a beach in Washington State nearly 20 years ago belong to a former Oregon mayor.

In a Tuesday, Jan. 13, news release, the Grays Harbor County Coroner's Office and the King County Medical Examiner's Office said the remains have been identified as Clarence Edwin Asher, 72, who previously served as the mayor of Fossil.

According to the coroner’s office statement, Asher was declared legally dead and presumed to have drowned after he went missing while crabbing in Oregon’s Tillamook Bay on Sept. 5, 2006.

That November, skeletal remains were found on a beach in Taholah, an unincorporated village on the Quinault Indian Reservation, the Grays Harbor County’s Coroner’s Office stated. 

After they responded to the scene and collected evidence, authorities were able to determine that the remains belonged to an adult male between the age of 20 and 60 with a likely height of 5' 9" and weight of about 170-180 lbs.

However, at the time, investigators were unable to identify the victim, who became known as "Grays Harbor County John Doe (2006)."

Last year, the Grays Harbor County Coroner's Office and the King County Medical Examiner sent forensic evidence linked to the case to private DNA laboratory Othram to see if a DNA examination can help identify the victim. 

“Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the provided evidence and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the man,” the company shared in a statement. “Othram's in-house forensic genetic genealogy team used the profile in a genetic genealogy search to develop new investigative leads that were returned to law enforcement.”

With the new information, authorities conducted a follow-up investigation that led to contact with the victim’s possible relatives, according to the coroner’s office and Othram.

A relative’s DNA sample was collected and compared with the victim’s DNA profile and a positive identification was made.

According to a 2006 obituary, Asher was born in Salem, Ore., and raised in Astoria. He later moved to Fossil with his first wife where he worked as a lineman technician for the Fossil Telephone Company until his retirement in 1995.

In addition to his mayoral duties in Fossil, Asher was a volunteer local fireman and ambulance driver and served on the ambulance and museum boards. 

“Loves in Ed's life included his wife of over 20 years, Helen, their large family, antique cars, fishing, boating, hunting, black labs, cooking and RVing,” the obituary read. 

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At the time of his death, Asher was survived by his wife and three children from his previous marriages, two stepsons and 21 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, according to his obituary.

Both the coroner’s office and Othram said that the identification of Asher represents the 43rd case in Washington State in which authorities identified a person through Othram’s technology.