SEATTLE — Human remains that were discovered in Seattle’s Magnolia neighborhood in 2017 and 2018 have been identified through DNA testing.
The remains were identified as Paul J. Bossart, Jr., 33, the Seattle Police Foundation announced Monday.
“For our family, this ends many years of wonder and gives us closure,” Bossart’s family said in a statement.
Multiple body parts washed ashore near Fourmile Rock, which is below the Magnolia Viewpoint. On Dec. 23, 2017, a dog found a hand. Four weeks later, a torso and a black and gold Air Jordan washed up at the same location. Three days later, a matching shoe was found.
Until now, police detectives and the King County Medical Examiner’s Office weren’t able to determine who the person was or how they died.
“The story I heard from the Bossart family struck me. It was hard, so we’re not celebrating here. We’re pleased we were able to come to a conclusion, but you recognize that you're bringing some very life-changing news to a family,” said Seattle Police Department Homicide Detective Rolf Norton.
The DNA technology was able to bring some closure to Bossart's family, but it doesn’t answer every question that remains.
“We don't know exactly what happened, we don't know why Paul Bossart Jr. ended up in the water,” said Norton.
The Seattle Police Department wasn’t able to pay for DNA testing, so the police foundation crowdfunded to have the test done. Nearly $15,000 was raised, according to the foundation.
Since the medical examiner was never able to determine how Bossart died, his case was not a homicide investigation and money for DNA testing had to be crowdfunded.
The Seattle Police Foundation said it will continue its work to raise funds for additional cases and is waiting for SPD to choose their next one.
The initial DNA test identified one relative and a family tree with 15 other possible relatives. Detectives reached the Bossart family in Illinois who confirmed that their son owned Air Jordans similar to the ones found with the remains.
Additional DNA testing confirmed the victim was Bossart, Jr.
Bossart, Jr. left home in November 2017 and wasn’t heard from again, according to the foundation. Police believe he relocated to Seattle but how his remains ended up in the water are still a mystery.
Bossart, Jr. isn’t the first person to be identified by crowdfunded DNA testing in Washington. In 2022, the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office fundraised to test the DNA of a foot found in a sneaker near the mouth of the Elwah River in Port Angeles. The victim was identified as Jerilyn Smith, 68, who had been missing since 2018.