Human Remains Found in River 3 Years Ago Identified as Man Who Was Last Seen at Casino

The mystery behind human remains that were found in the Mississippi River three years ago has finally been solved. 

In a Tuesday, June 3, news statement, the New Madrid County Sheriff’s Office in Missouri said that the remains belonged to Robert J. Eaton, 26, who was reported missing from Elizabeth, Ind., in February 2022.  

Eaton, who is from Louisville, Ky., was last seen at the Caesars Southern Indiana, Fox affiliate WDRB and NBC affiliate WAVE.

In its latest statement, the sheriff’s office said that on June 2, 2022, authorities received a phone call about a body that was spotted in the Mississippi River in Portageville, Mo. The remains were later recovered and taken to the medical examiner for an autopsy. 

“The remains were those of a white male between the ages of 18 and 29, approximately 5’10” in height, and were estimated to have been in the river for a minimum of two to three months,” the sheriff’s office said. “No signs of trauma were noted. The case was entered into NamUs as UP 96458. A traditional DNA profile was developed for comparison to missing persons, but no matches were returned.”

Despite continued efforts, for the next two years officials were unable to determine the John Doe’s identity. That all changed last summer, when sheriff’s investigators contacted Dr. Jenifer Bengtson, a professor of anthropology at Southeast Missouri State University, to consult on the case.

Bengston and her students traveled to Portageville to meet with investigators and the coroner as well as to analyze the remains and pick samples for additional testing.

“They completed an updated dental inventory and analysis and entered those data into NamUs,” the sheriff’s office said of Bengston and her team’s work. “They also used literature-based and bone chemistry research to prioritize samples for advanced DNA testing. These samples were sent to Othram [a company that specializes in forensic work], where their scientists were able to build a comprehensive SNP [single-nucleotide polymorphism] profile.”

“While Dr. Bengtson and her students continued to fine tune the decedent’s biological profile, Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team worked to develop new leads in the case, which were returned to investigators,” the sheriff’s office added. 

Investigators later discovered that a possible relatives mentioned in the genealogy report had made social media posts about a missing loved one who matched the demographic profile of their John Doe.  

Authorities interviewed the potential relatives in April of this year and collected samples for analysis, The results from the testing confirmed the identity.

Sheriff Joey Higgerson said in the statement that authorities on May 30 met with Eaton’s family, who traveled to Missouri to pick up their loved one’s remains and bring them back to Kentucky.

“We are especially grateful to Dr. Bengston and the Anthropology Department at Southeast Missouri State University; because of their tireless efforts, a family who has been searching for their son for the last two years finally has closure,” Higgerson said. 

“They [Robert’s family] assured us that they are finally at peace, and they took some comfort in the fact that this case opened the door to new techniques that will change the way we investigate these cases in New Madrid County,” he agged.

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The investigation into the circumstances behind Eaton’s disappearance and death is ongoing, said authorities. 

According to Eaton’s obituary, a visitation will be held on Sunday, June 8. 

“He loved his friends and family deeply and he will be remembered by his kind heart, sweet smile and comforting presence,” the tribute read.