Human remains discovered on a Washington beach nearly 20 years ago have been identified as Clarence Edwin “Ed” Asher, a former mayor of Fossil, Oregon, who vanished while crabbing in September 2006.
Asher was 72 years old when he disappeared on September 5, 2006, while crabbing in Tillamook Bay. He was presumed to have drowned and declared legally dead in 2006. Authorities determined that Asher did not wear a lifejacket and did not know how to swim.
In November 2006, skeletal remains washed ashore in Taholah, Washington, an unincorporated village on the Quinault Indian Reservation in Grays Harbor County. The location was 185 miles north of where Asher had disappeared.
The Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office and Grays Harbor County Coroner’s Office responded to the discovery and collected evidence. Initial examination determined the remains belonged to a man estimated to be between 20 and 60 years old, standing 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing an estimated 170 to 180 pounds.
Despite investigative efforts, the remains could not be identified at the time. The unidentified man became known as “Grays Harbor County John Doe.”
The breakthrough came in 2025 when the Grays Harbor County Coroner’s Office and the King County Medical Examiner sent forensic evidence from the John Doe case to Othram, a Texas laboratory specializing in forensic genetic genealogy.
Scientists at the facility extracted DNA from the skeletal remains and built a comprehensive DNA profile using genome sequencing technology. The forensic genealogy team then used genetic genealogy techniques to develop investigative leads.
Investigators followed these leads to potential relatives of the unidentified man. DNA samples were collected from a relative and compared to the DNA profile of the John Doe remains. The samples matched, confirming the identity of the remains as Asher.
“Critical funding to enable forensic genetic genealogy testing in this case was made possible by the Washington State Legislature,” said officials, according to Othram. “We are grateful for their support in providing this funding.”
The identification represents the 43rd case in Washington where officials have publicly identified an individual using technology developed by Othram.
Asher was born on April 2, 1934, in Salem, Oregon, and was raised in the Astoria, Oregon, area. In 1952, he moved to Fossil, Oregon, a small town in Wheeler County, where he would spend the rest of his life building a legacy of community service.
He worked as a lineman for the Fossil Telephone Company, a position he held until his retirement in 1995. His career in telecommunications spanned more than four decades, helping connect the rural community during an era of significant technological advancement in communication infrastructure.
In 1965, Asher expanded his entrepreneurial pursuits by opening Asher’s Variety Store, a local business that served the Fossil community for years. The store became a fixture in the small town, providing residents with essential goods and serving as a gathering place.
Asher’s commitment to public service extended beyond his business ventures. He served as mayor of Fossil and volunteered as both a fireman and ambulance driver, demonstrating his dedication to the safety and well-being of his neighbors. His involvement in emergency services reflected the close-knit nature of small-town Oregon, where community members often filled multiple roles to ensure essential services were available.
Asher was married to Helen Asher, his wife of 20 years at the time of his disappearance. They had married in 1986. Helen passed away in 2018.
The couple had a large blended family. Asher was survived by 21 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren at the time of his death – a testament to his extensive family network that stretched across Oregon and beyond.
The case highlights the growing importance of forensic genetic genealogy in solving cold cases and identifying unknown remains. This technology combines traditional DNA analysis with genealogical research, using publicly available genetic databases to trace family connections. The technique has revolutionized cold case investigations across the United States, providing answers in cases that remained unsolved for decades.
Forensic genetic genealogy works by comparing DNA profiles from unidentified remains or crime scenes to genetic information voluntarily submitted to genealogy databases by individuals seeking to learn about their ancestry. When matches are found, investigators can build family trees to identify potential relatives and, ultimately, the unknown individual.
The process requires specialized expertise in both forensic science and genealogical research. Scientists must first extract viable DNA from often degraded biological samples, then create comprehensive genetic profiles suitable for comparison. Genealogists then interpret the results, tracing family connections through multiple generations to narrow down potential identities.
The identification of Asher brings closure to a case that spanned nearly two decades. His disappearance in Tillamook Bay and the subsequent discovery of remains almost 100 miles north illustrated the challenges faced by investigators working to identify human remains found in coastal waters, where ocean currents can transport remains significant distances from where individuals originally entered the water.
Tillamook Bay, located on Oregon’s northwest coast, is a popular destination for recreational crabbing and fishing. The bay’s tidal flows connect to the Pacific Ocean, creating conditions where individuals who enter the water can be carried considerable distances by ocean currents before their remains eventually wash ashore.
The successful identification also underscores the value of preserving evidence from cold cases. The forensic samples collected by the Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office and Coroner’s Office in 2006 remained available for testing nearly 20 years later, enabling the application of advanced DNA technologies that did not exist when the remains were first discovered.
