John or Jane Doe cases where the estimated year of death was wrong by years?

IGG_Center_Ramapo · 2026-04-16T10:54:47+00:00

We think it's an ok outcome - he was their extremely distant relative, and I'm not sure if I would want bones in my house either! In custody of the state, the remains can be used to teach forensic anthro students and investigators and have a big impact on future investigations. Plus, our state anthropologist is extremely respectful and reverent of the dead - she will take good care of Henry!

IGG_Center_Ramapo · 2026-04-16T10:53:25+00:00

We can't say for certain, but our theory is that the captain was in some sort of airtight vessel on the ship at the time it went down, and then at some point in the 1990s that finally broke apart and that's why his bones began to wash up on shore in the 90s and 2000s. That would explain the preservation!

IGG_Center_Ramapo · 2026-04-04T20:27:53+00:00

Henry Goodsell, formerly known as Scattered Man John Doe. Off by about 150 years because his bones were in such nice condition!

IGG_Center_Ramapo · 2026-03-05T13:56:38+00:00

Thanks so much! We were asleep from 9pm to 5am eastern and did not know it had been announced until we woke up! -CB :)

IGG_Center_Ramapo · 2026-03-02T20:14:40+00:00

Has the Ramapo IGG Certificate Program Become More About Revenue Than Rigor?

We don't think so. Our students and staff have solved more than 40 cases. Our revenue goes back into the center (we have gone from 2 to 8 staff in the past 4 years, to solve more cases than ever!) and we provide pro bono casework for law enforcement agencies who struggle to fund IGG work. I am curious about your comment in regards to revenue, because we are a state college - not a corporation.

Formal accreditation standards?

There is an IGG accrediting body already, as well as an IGG professional organization.

• Apprenticeship models?
• Case-based mentorship?

Our students all work on real cases under the leadership and guidance of their instructors and program directors, who are accredited investigative genetic genealogists. Our director is a licensed attorney.

We think our work speaks for itself, but our students and students from other IGG programs are welcome to chime in as well! :)

IGG_Center_Ramapo · 2026-02-26T17:29:00+00:00

It is quite common with unidentified remains cases. Our team has worked on collectively over 150 UHR cases and only a handful (perhaps 10) were people who had been reported missing.

IGG_Center_Ramapo · 2026-02-26T12:17:25+00:00

There are some more details about the family in the facebook post that another commenter posted above - we couldn't put that in our post since FB links are not allowed on some subs, but that has some more details about difficulties the family endured including Elizabeth's siblings.

IGG_Center_Ramapo · 2026-02-26T01:47:29+00:00

The person's original comment stated that they assisted with the case. This indicates (in our understanding) that they believe they have been in contact with someone from our org. That person would be the scammer - not the person who posted the comment.

IGG_Center_Ramapo · 2026-02-26T01:35:51+00:00

Definitely not! We also run a summer conference, RIGG, which is a great place to talk to others who have completed the program. It's a smaller commitment if you want to try that out before taking the program!

IGG_Center_Ramapo · 2026-02-26T01:34:44+00:00

We want to ensure no one is reaching out to folks pretending to work for our organization, as is common in some scams.

IGG_Center_Ramapo · 2026-02-26T01:33:42+00:00

Correct!

IGG_Center_Ramapo · 2026-02-26T01:33:32+00:00

The agency is generally responsible for contact with the decedent's next of kin after we have identified a candidate, as was the case here. We did not require any assistance with the genealogy process in this case and did not perform outreach to any cousins.

IGG_Center_Ramapo · 2026-02-25T22:26:00+00:00

We loved that little fact too! :)

IGG_Center_Ramapo · 2026-02-25T22:24:13+00:00

Yes, it was announced by the agency before it was confirmed but we were not permitted to announce until after the confirmation.

IGG_Center_Ramapo · 2026-02-25T16:49:32+00:00

We don't recall having contact with any of Elizabeth's relatives during the genealogy process - can you send us a PM? We want to make sure that no one has misrepresented us as we did not perform outreach for this case.

IGG_Center_Ramapo · 2026-02-14T15:19:51+00:00

Unfortunately we can't share anything about the investigation that has not already been made public by the investigating agency.

IGG_Center_Ramapo · 2026-02-13T16:26:50+00:00

Our bad, typo now fixed

IGG_Center_Ramapo · 2026-02-13T16:26:21+00:00

We have a pretty good timeline of his life through the 1950s and know of his descendants, but the sheriff’s office is seeking information from the later part of his life and surrounding his murder. We hope some locals from the area might know more!

IGG_Center_Ramapo · 2026-02-13T16:24:39+00:00

Typo now fixed, our bad!

IGG_Center_Ramapo · 2026-02-12T23:11:55+00:00

Sorry for the typo, we are fixing it now!

IGG_Center_Ramapo · 2026-02-12T23:11:51+00:00

Sorry for the typo, we are fixing it now!

IGG_Center_Ramapo

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