Knoxville, TN (WOKI) Human remains discovered in Knoxville in 2020 have been identified as a result of a cold case initiative.

Officials with the Knox County Regional Forensic Center say DNA submitted to Othram, a private lab in Texas, led to the discovery of information about possible relatives in Michigan connected to an unidentified male body found in May of 2020 in Knoxville.

“RFC death investigators contacted that individual who stated they had not seen the decedent in 22 years. Based on DNA and forensic genealogy results, scientists at Othram confirmed that the Knox County John Doe was Gerald J. Forsman, originally from Livonia, Michigan,” said the Knox County Regional Forensic Center.

In a social media post, the forensic center said that this testing was the result of U.S. Congressman Tim Burchett’s 2024 community project funding request.