Skeleton washed ashore on beach identified as former mayor who disappeared 20 years ago

'Advanced' DNA testing has confirmed the identity of skeletal remains found in Washington as belonging to former Fossil mayor Clarence Asher.

On September 5, 2006, at around 10am, Clarence Edwin 'Ed' Asher went out on his boat crabbing in Tillamook Bay, Oregon, however, he would never return.

That evening, after he failed to return at an expected time of 3pm, his wife reported him missing to Oregon State Police.

The US Coast Guard immediately launched a search for the 72-year-old - who, prior to retiring and focusing on crabbing, was not only a lineman technician for the Fossil Telephone Company, but also the former mayor of Fossil.

The Coast Guard sent out two utility boats, a motor lifeboat and skiff alongside multiple helicopters and located Asher's 21-foot boat around half-a-mile from the Garibaldi Marina, The Astorian reported at the time.

Clarence Asher went crabbing in Tillamook Bay (Getty Images)

The boat was discovered with live crab on board and two out of three of Asher's buoys were also found, but no life jacket was recovered. Asher's wife reportedly said he never normally put one on and didn't know how to swim.

It was suspected Asher had fallen overboard, but after 11 more hours of searching the Coast Guard suspended its hunt for the missing grabber the following afternoon.

It was presumed Asher had drowned and an obituary details a memorial service was held on October 14, 2006.

But then in November 2006, skeletal remains washed up on a beach in the village of Taholah on the Quinault Indian Reservation in Grays Harbor County, Washington.

Clarence Asher was a former mayor of Fossil (The Oregonian)

The Grays Harbor Sheriff's Office and the Grays Harbor County Coroner's Office determined the remains belonged to an adult man of between 20 to 60 years of age, measuring around 5ft9in tall and weighing around 170 to 180lbs, DNA Solves reports.

However, the man couldn't be formally identified and became known as Grays Harbor County John Doe - until now.

Last year, forensic evidence was submitted by Grays Harbor County Coroner's Office alongside the King County Medical examiner to scientists at Othram in The Woodlands, Texas.

The scientists used advanced DNA testing - called Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing - on the remains, creating a 'comprehensive' DNA profile, DNASolves reports.

The profile was then analysed by experts in a genetic genealogy search which ultimately led to a follow-up investigation by law enforcement and the positive identification of the remains as belonging to Asher.

DNASolves resolved, as quoted by KVAL: "Critical funding to enable forensic genetic genealogy testing in this case was made possible by Governor Ferguson, Attorney General Nick Brown, and the Washington State Legislature. We are grateful for their support in providing this funding.

"Individuals who have taken a consumer DNA test can aid ongoing forensic investigations by joining the DNASolves database. Expanding the pool of available DNA data increases the likelihood of successful identifications, helping to reunite families with their missing loved ones and resolve cases that have remained unsolved for years."

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