SouthernWorldwide.com – The remains of a man discovered in the Utah desert 28 years ago, with the initial search aided by a psychic, have finally been identified this week through DNA genealogy.
The individual has been identified as Pedro Calderon Marioni. Authorities estimate that he had likely been deceased for two years by the time his remains were found in 1998. This announcement was made by the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office on Monday.
Sgt. Tom Talbot of the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office stated in a news release that this identification highlights the importance of perseverance, cooperation, and advancements in forensic science. He emphasized that most importantly, it provides long-awaited closure to a family that has endured decades of uncertainty regarding the fate of their loved one.
Marioni’s remains, which were partially skeletonized, were identified by a specialized forensics laboratory that focuses on cold case investigations.
Pedro Calderon Marioni, who was 31 years old at the time of his discovery, was found on June 2, 1998. His remains were located in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in Ticaboo, Utah.
The initial search for Marioni was triggered by a psychic who assisted investigators looking for three suspects involved in the murder of a Colorado police officer in the same area. His remains were discovered by an agent from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The discovery site was near a drainage path, with the remains partially concealed by sand, rock, and dirt. Investigators at the time were unable to establish any connection between Marioni’s remains and the fugitives they were seeking.
Several personal items were found in close proximity to his remains. These included cowboy boots, a bathrobe, a key for a Ford truck, and a long-distance calling card.
Based on the evidence and items found, investigators at the time theorized that Marioni might have been traveling from Texas to California.
His remains were transported to the Utah Office of the Medical Examiner. Despite extensive efforts to identify him, he remained unidentified and became known as “Garfield County John Doe.”
Approximately two years ago, in July, the state of Utah sent his remains to Othram, a laboratory in Texas specializing in cold case processing. This was done to conduct advanced forensic genetic genealogy testing, a process made possible by federal grant funding.
The lab successfully created a DNA profile from the remains. This profile provided investigators with new leads to pursue potential family connections.
Following a thorough review of historical records, the identification of potential family members, and multiple interviews, a possible sister of Marioni was identified in May.
She subsequently provided a DNA sample, which ultimately confirmed that Marioni was indeed her brother.
The sheriff’s office noted that Marioni’s identification marks the eighth publicly announced cold case identification made possible by Othram’s laboratory through genetic genealogy analysis.
In a separate development related to the initial investigation, the three suspects sought in the murder of Officer Dale Claxton reportedly died by suicide after they were located by investigators.
