University of Colorado researchers acknowledged Wednesday that they made a mistake in identifying human remains found in the Utah wilderness as those of Everett Ruess, a legendary wanderer of the 1930s, despite initial forensic tests that seemed to have solved an enduring mystery.
“We couldn’t reproduce the results,” said Kenneth Krauter, a professor in CU’s molecular, cellular and developmental biology department. “We still don’t know exactly why. But it’s my fault. I should have been more critical of our methods. I take responsibility for that.”
Brian Ruess, a 44-year-old software salesman in Portland, Ore., and the nephew of Everett Ruess, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that new tests at the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory in Rockville, Md., disproved the initial DNA tests done in Boulder.
“The skeleton is not related to us,” he said.
Everett Ruess vanished in southern Utah in 1934, writing in a final letter to his family in California that “as to when I revisit civilization, it will not be soon” and “it is enough that I am surrounded with beauty.”
He was 20 and a gifted poet who explored the Southwest over much of four years. In between journeys, he hobnobbed with famous artists of his time.
Ruess’ supposed remains were found stuffed in a rock crevice against a cliff wall at remote Comb Ridge in southeastern Utah, about 60 miles from Escalante, the town where he set off for his final wilderness journey.
National Geographic Adventure magazine contributing editor David Roberts first brought the remains to the attention of CU anthropology professor Dennis Van Gerven. His forensic analysis indicated the person was a man about the same size and age as Ruess. In addition, a reconstruction of fragile facial bones from the remains superimposed over photographs taken of Ruess in the 1930s revealed a resemblance.
“I am sure everyone can appreciate how disappointed we are,” Van Gerven said in a CU news release. “We conducted every aspect of the analysis in good faith, and science always marches forward.”
Van Gerven could not be reached for additional comment.
Krauter conducted his DNA analysis using samples from four living nieces and nephews of Ruess after Van Gerven’s initial work indicated the remains might belong to Ruess. Krauter said his mistake was using technology with a proven track record in genetic testing on living people and applying it to forensic remains in which the DNA samples were small and degraded.
He said he’s still not sure exactly what went wrong, but he believes the software that analyzed the samples may have produced an answer despite not having enough data. He said the technology should not be applied yet to forensics work, which is not his area of expertise, without further development.
Krauter said he supported the family’s decision to seek a second opinion because of persistent questions about the initial results, primarily from Utah’s state archaeologist, Kevin Jones.
Jones said a recovered lower jawbone was characteristic of an American Indian’s, not a man of European descent, and that worn teeth suggested a lifetime diet of coarse grains.
The Armed Forces laboratory, which has extensive experience identifying the remains of missing soldiers, found the body was not that of a Caucasian. The remains will be returned to the Navajo Nation.
Jones believes the first researchers mixed DNA from Ruess’ four nephews and nieces with that of the discovered bones, contaminating the results.
Krauter said that is extremely unlikely because the results were not consistent with that scenario and retrospective testing doesn’t support it. He said the person who handled the samples has 20 years of experience and has never contaminated a sample.
The back-and-forth was jarring to the artist’s only surviving family members.
“It is an up and a down, and certain members of the family would have really liked closure,” Brian Ruess told the AP.
Krauter said he applauded the family for pursuing the truth and preserving the remains until a second opinion was sought.
“I’m disappointed, but I think the right thing has happened,” he said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Contact reporter Erica Meltzer at 303-473-1355 or meltzere@dailycamera.com.