TACOMA, Wash. — Across the state of Washington, there are currently 163 unidentified human remains that are waiting for further testing.
Attorney General Bob Ferguson, at the recommendation of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People Task Force, announced $500,000 will fund DNA testing and genetic genealogy for the entire backlog.
A news release from the AG's office read, in part: "The new funding will supplement existing state and federal DNA testing resources. As a result, families awaiting information about loved ones do not need to endure unnecessary delays and cases can be resolved more quickly."
A report published in December 2023 urged the legislature to fund the efforts to clear the backlog.
The mother of Besse Handy, Connie Samuels, had no idea her daughter passed away in an encampment fire because her daughter's remains sat unidentified for more than a year.
"When I find that out in January 2023, that she was sitting there since June 2021, I asked, 'Why? Who didn't do what?'" Samuels said.
Besse Handy died in June 2021 and was identified in January 2023 after the Washington State Patrol worked with forensic odonatologists to compare her dental records to the records of the unidentified person.
Samuels is grateful to hear that a significant amount of money has been set aside to help other families like hers.
"I'm really glad that you are here telling me this news because there are a lot of people suffering. It's heart-wrenching," she said.
The money will be used first for DNA testing, and then, if that does not provide answers, forensic genetic genealogy will be used as the next step.
"Now we have more hope because you can get the DNA process going," Samuels said.
Samuels wishes she didn't have to wait for answers and she hopes this funding will help families get closure.
"You have to start to heal and you can't start to heal until you have all your facts. Then you can work on it," Samuels said.
Testing for DNA and forensic genealogy can be costly. DNA testing costs approximately $2,500 and genetic genealogy costs approximately $8,000.