Human remains that washed ashore on a remote Washington state beach two decades ago have finally been identified, closing a long-standing cold case. The skeletal remains belong to Clarence Edwin 'Ed' Asher, the former mayor of Fossil, Oregon, who vanished during a crabbing trip in 2006.
A Disappearance and a Discovery
Ed Asher was 72 years old when he went missing during a crabbing expedition in Tillamook Bay, Oregon, in 2006. His disappearance prompted an extensive search operation, but no trace was found. He was pronounced legally dead on September 5 of that same year.
Approximately two months after he vanished, skeletal remains were discovered on a beach in Taholah, a small village on the Pacific coast situated within the Quinault Indian Reservation in Washington state. The Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office and Coroner’s Office examined the remains, determining they belonged to an adult male, roughly 5'9" tall and weighing between 170 and 180 pounds.
Despite their efforts, officials could not put a name to the remains. The case was entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, where the individual was listed only as the Grays Harbor County John Doe.
The Breakthrough: Forensic Genealogy
For nearly 20 years, the case remained unsolved. The breakthrough came when the Grays Harbor County Coroner's Office and the King County Medical Examiner submitted the remains to Othram, a specialised forensic genealogy company based in Texas.
Scientists at Othram developed a comprehensive DNA profile from the evidence. This advanced genetic analysis provided fresh leads for law enforcement, directing investigators towards potential relatives of the unidentified man.
A follow-up investigation led officials to Asher's family, who submitted DNA samples for comparison. The match was conclusive, finally identifying the John Doe as the missing former mayor.
The Life of Ed Asher
Clarence Edwin Asher was born in Salem on April 2, 1934. He grew up in Astoria before moving to Fossil in 1952, where he would spend most of his life. He worked for decades as a lineman technician for the Fossil Telephone Company, retiring in 1995.
Asher was deeply involved in his community. He served as the mayor of Fossil and volunteered as a local fireman and ambulance driver. He was married to his wife, Helen, for over 20 years, and together they had a large extended family, including 21 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. Helen passed away from cancer in 2018 at the age of 85.
The identification was made possible through funding supported by Washington Governor Bob Ferguson, Attorney General Nick Brown, and the State Legislature. Othram, the company responsible for the genetic testing, has now helped officials in Washington State identify 43 individuals.
This resolution, though long overdue, provides answers to a family and a community that waited nearly two decades to learn the fate of a respected former mayor and dedicated public servant.
