Authorities reported that a skull discovered in the wall of an Illinois house belonged to a girl who died from childbirth complications in 1866. This information was revealed during a news conference following a public fundraiser aimed at identifying the remains.

The young woman, named Esther Granger, was originally from Merrillville, Indiana. She was just 17 years old at the time of her death during Andrew Johnson’s presidency, investigators mentioned on Thursday.

Earlier this month, photographer Thomas Doggett, along with 3D Resin Solutions of South Elgin, Illinois, and forensic artist Natalie Murray collaborated to create an artistic depiction of what Granger might have looked like.

The skull was initially found in November 1978 in Batavia, Illinois, located approximately 43 miles west of Chicago, as reported by the Kane County Coroner’s Office.

The property owner, James Skinner, discovered the skull and additional items while renovating his home. He promptly informed the police, who retrieved the skull and items to begin an investigation, according to the coroner’s office.

Here’s some important information about the case.

Why Did the Identification Process Take So Long?

Despite the skull being found in 1978, authorities struggled to identify Granger until 2021, when the Kane County Coroner’s Cold Case Team learned about Othram Laboratories, a forensic sequencing lab in Texas specializing in genetic genealogy.

Eventually, Othram was able to create a DNA profile. To fund the final steps of the identification process, investigators initiated a DNASolves crowdfunding campaign that successfully raised $7,500.

By February 2024, a match was found, indicating that the skull belonged to Granger.

Nevertheless, to confirm the match, a living relative’s DNA needed to be tested. Othram reached out to what they believed was Granger’s second great-grandson for assistance.

The DNA match was verified on June 17, according to the coroner’s office.

Decades of Investigation for Answers

In 1978, investigators sent the skull to Northern Illinois University’s anthropology department.

There, researchers concluded that the skull belonged to a female who likely died in her mid-20s and had passed before 1900.

From 1978 to 1979, investigators reached out to numerous national labs, museums, and genealogical societies in hopes of finding clues but met with no success. Eventually, the skull was stored at the Batavia Depot Museum for safekeeping.

Museum staff rediscovered the skull during an inventory in March 2021 and contacted the Batavia Police Department, which then forwarded it to the Kane County Coroner’s Office to resume the investigation.

Modern Techniques Lead to Victim Identification

This time, Deputy Coroner Gabriela Allison took charge of the investigation. Upon discovering Othram Laboratories, she inquired about their capabilities. She learned about forensic investigative genetic genealogy, which could help match DNA profiles even from decades-old materials.

In May 2023, Othram’s technicians began attempting to develop a DNA profile from the skull. This enabled investigators to raise funds for completing the identification process.

In December 2023, Othram advised the Kane County Coroner’s Office that they should start fundraising for the project.

By January 2024, they secured the necessary funds, and the following month, Othram announced they had identified the skull as belonging to Esther Granger.

Next, they needed to confirm the match through DNA testing of living relatives. The coroner’s office contacted Wayne Svilar, believed to be a descendant of Granger. He provided his DNA sample, which led to the confirmation on June 17 that he is Granger’s second great-grandson.

In August, a private burial ceremony for Granger took place at West Batavia Cemetery, attended by Svilar, the coroner’s office, and the Batavia Police Department.

Who was Esther Granger?

Esther Ann Granger, born on October 26, 1848, was the second of six siblings, as detailed by Othram in a news release. She passed away in 1866 and was laid to rest in Lake County, Indiana.

Although the circumstances surrounding how her remains came to be in Batavia are unclear, Othram suggested that grave robbing might be a possibility. The coroner’s office noted that, in the 19th century, some doctors would “pay for fresh corpses” to further their understanding of human anatomy.

“Identifying Esther is the oldest case of unidentified remains resolved by Othram and is the ninth successful forensic genetic genealogy identification in Illinois utilizing Othram’s technology,” stated Othram.

“Thanks to persistent investigation and cutting-edge DNA technology, we have finally revealed the identity of the skull discovered many years ago,” remarked Kane County Coroner Rob Russell in an official statement. “This individual has regained her identity.”

“For many years, this person’s identity remained a mystery,” Russell said during the ceremony. “Now, after decades, thanks to the dedicated efforts of everyone here today, advancements in science and technology, and a stroke of luck, we can confidently declare that Jane Doe is Esther Granger,” he added.