BY BARBARA A MARTIN
The Forensic Focus

May, 2003

Did you ever wonder what happens to cold cases? Those unidentified bodies which go on as John /or Jane Doe where the leads go cold and the post mortem photos can’t be seen in newspapers or TV news media?

Now there is a group dedicated to helping this situation. There is, according to Todd Matthews, a spokesman with the group called the EDAN Project, over 4,500 cases unidentified remains still not resolved listed on the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) which holds a database which searches new missing person reports with existing reports for matches. The number are even higher, if you include those not listed, or already taken off".
The organization, which is called DoeNetwork and can be found on the Internet as: www.DoeNetwork.Org

It enlists a network of members from around the world who volunteer their efforts to work in different capacities to assist agencies in possibly making that one connection you need to put name and person and image together.

The EDAN Project reviews images and has their artists reconstruct either a 2-dimensional drawing, from post mortem photos and physical descriptors given or a 3-dimensional sculpture by method of clay on a skull provided to the artist. Then, to the best of their abilities, to recreate the facial image that will go on a poster that travels worldwide to be matched against faces of missing persons reported who’s whereabouts are unknown. When a "hit" is made, the appropriate law enforcement agency is then contacted to follow up on all investigative leads. It is a service provided by those dedicated to go on to serve law enforcement and assist in closure for families, friends and loved ones.

In March, Barbara Martin, of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, in the Forensic Science Laboratory became one of the EDAN Project members who participates in forensic art services. At present, she has done five such cases for this organization. With 35 years of experience in forensic art, a printing of her publication on reconstruction, present research in the field, and international certification, artists such as she bring her talents to the network. The primary purpose is to offer services to those who either do not have a forensic artist of their own and or lack money or access to such capabilities.
This article serves to educate you the reader and law enforcement person to what is out there and available to help you in your job. You have nothing to loose by asking for help, but an avenue to help educate people how to look at these images, and make the one necessary connection. As Todd Matthews says, "By offering this service, we hope to make sure that no face goes unseen. The Project is also an attempt at a resource and information exchange. The DoeNetwork and the EDAN Project have been acting since March 1999. Some cases are already solved and some are on the verge of being closed. Presently there are 700 possibilities at various stages of review in the potential-match database. A Bio-sketch of artist can be obtained by clicking onto the icon next to the artist’s name found in the EDAN directory on the DoeNetwork.