The Los Angeles Post
U.S. World Business Lifestyle
Today: April 01, 2025
Today: April 01, 2025

Skull found in Batavia, Illinois home in 1978 identified as teen who died in 1866

Skull found in Batavia, Illinois home in 1978 identified as teen who died in 1866
October 24, 2024
Todd Feurer - WBBM

    BATAVIA, Illinois (WBBM) -- Authorities in Kane County finally solved a cold case dating back 46 years, when a human skull was found during a home renovation project in Batavia in 1978.

The Kane County Coroner's Office said the skull has been identified as Esther Granger, a 17-year-old girl who died in Merryville, Indiana, in 1866. Authorities believe she died from complications during childbirth.

A couple remodeling their home in Batavia found what appeared to be a human lower jaw inside a wall. Police later found a partial skull inside the same wall. The bones were sent to the anthropology department at Northern Illinois University, which confirmed the bones were human, and likely dated back much further than 1978.

The skull was later donated to the Batavia Historical Society, where it remained until 2021, when it was turned over to Batavia police, and then the Kane County Coroner, in hopes of identifying the remains.

With the assistance of Texas-based Othram, which specializes in forensic genetic genealogy, the coroner's office was able to use modern DNA technology to identify the remains.

Officials tracked down Granger's second great-grandchild, who provided a DNA sample to confirm the identity of her remains.

It's still a mystery how Granger's remains ended up in Batavia. Kane County Coroner L. Robert Russell theorized that the girl might have been the victim of a grave robbery after she died, or that doctors at the time of her death might have purchased her remains to learn more about human anatomy.

Related Articles

Columbus was a Sephardic Jew from Western Europe, study finds Jus sanguinis โ€“ or โ€˜blood rightโ€™ โ€“ might entitle you to citizenship in Europe Miley Cyrus and Dolly Parton are apparently distant relatives Filling the silences in family stories โˆ’ how to think like a historian to uncover your familyโ€™s narrative
Share This

Popular

Celebrity|Crime|Sports|US

Super Bowl champ Richard Sherman joins long list of sports figures whose homes have been burglarized

Super Bowl champ Richard Sherman joins long list of sports figures whose homes have been burglarized
Celebrity|Crime|Health|US

Epstein and Prince Andrew accuser says she only has 'days to live' after car accident

Epstein and Prince Andrew accuser says she only has 'days to live' after car accident
Americas|Crime|Political|US

Priscilla Alvarez on what we know about father mistakenly deported, sent to El Salvador prison

Priscilla Alvarez on what we know about father mistakenly deported, sent to El Salvador prison
Crime|US

At least 2 people are critically injured in Boston after a truck strikes pedestrians in an apparent accident, sources say

At least 2 people are critically injured in Boston after a truck strikes pedestrians in an apparent accident, sources say

Crime

Business|Crime|Political|Technology|US

Man charged in Colorado Tesla firebomb attack denies trying to โ€˜runโ€™ from feds

Man charged in Colorado Tesla firebomb attack denies trying to โ€˜runโ€™ from feds
Crime|US

'They killed my baby': 911 calls reveal father's distress after finding 3-year-old daughter stabbed to death

'They killed my baby': 911 calls reveal father's distress after finding 3-year-old daughter stabbed to death
Americas|Crime|Political

Mexico's security chief quietly forms an elite force to take on the drug cartels

Mexico's security chief quietly forms an elite force to take on the drug cartels
Crime|Lifestyle|US

Neighbors fighting back against tenant housing noisy roosters in front of Manhattan apartment

Neighbors fighting back against tenant housing noisy roosters in front of Manhattan apartment