FRANKLIN COUNTY, Wash. – A man found dead at the Scooteney Reservoir in 2022 has been identified over one year later.
On May 5. 2022, the remains of an unidentified individual were found near the shore of the Scooteney Reservoir in Franklin County. Othram, Inc., an advanced genetic genealogy firm that assisted in identifying the body, said the remains were found by children fishing in the lake.
When the man was found, officials say it was evident he was there for months. According to Othram, Inc., the man had no identifying characteristics, including his possible biogeographical ancestry.
In July 2023, the Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office teamed up with the Franklin County Coroner’s Office to authorize DNA testing to determine the unknown man’s identity. A reference DNA sample from a possible relative was obtained. With assistance from Othram, Inc., the identity of the unidentified man was determined to be Antonio Juanes Gasper of Guatemala.
Juanes-Gasper was a farm laborer in the Othello area for work. His family reported him missing on Aug. 5, 2021. He was 39 years old at the time of his disappearance.
