DNA tests prove human jawbone found in Chemung River is from missing Elmira man
DNA tests conducted by a state police crime lab have confirmed suspicions that a human jawbone found in the Chemung River in May belonged to a missing Elmira man.
A boater on the river recovered the bone May 11 in the southeastern corner of the Chemung County in the Town of Chemung, and reported it to the Chemung County Sheriff's Office.
The Elmira Police Department was also interested in the discovery, since they were investigating the 2020 disappearance of Matthew Barber, who was 21 at the time.
Elmira Police Chief Anthony Alvernaz said DNA tests confirmed the remains did belong to Barber, and that his family has been notified.
Barber, a disabled adult, was reported missing in October 2020, and police said they had information that he may have been traveling to Pennsylvania.
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Police suspected the bone could have belonged to Barber because there are only a few open missing person cases in the region, Alvernaz said.
The case remains open as police still don't know how Barber went missing or how his remains ended up in the river, Alvernaz said.
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This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Human jawbone found in Chemung River from missing Elmira man
