1980 Oneida County John Doe identified

Thanks to the marvels of modern science and the diligent efforts of numerous individuals, a 43-year-old Oneida County mystery has finally been solved.

Oneida County medical examiner Crystal L. Schaub announced Friday that the remains of a deceased male found in a snowy field on March 19, 1980 have been positively identified as Norman Grasser of Chicago.

According to a press release announcing the positive identification, the Oneida County medical examiner’s and sheriff’s offices responded to a call in the Town of Pine Lake on that long ago March day and located the male lying in the snow.

The body, which was discovered by a local couple hiking on a snowmobile trail, was located approximately 46 yards off of Highway 17, on private property.

According to a March 20, 1980 Rhinelander Daily News report on the discovery of the remains, “the victim was wearing a multicolor plaid shirt, black corduroy coat, earmuffs, a scarf and shoes and socks.”

He was described as a white male between the ages of 25-45 years of age, 6’1/2”, 170 pounds and had brown hair.

The Daily News story goes on to norw that Oneida County sheriff’s investigator Ray Zastrow reported that “the man’s wallet contained some cash, two keys, and a calendar from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. The wallet contained no identification. Zastrow said the victim was also carrying a compass, facial tissue and a comb, and was wearing a watch.”

No foul play was suspected, Zastrow told the newspaper, but an autopsy was to be performed at the University of Wisconsin.

According to Schaub’s press release, it was determined that the male had died from cold exposure due to hypothermia. His fingerprints were sent to the State Crime Laboratory as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation for possible identification but there were no matches.

Over time, the case continued to be investigated through missing persons report followups and press releases, but decades passed without answers, Schaub noted.

In 2019, the unidentified male was entered into NamUs, a national database for missing and unidentified and unclaimed person cases across the United States. Multiple possible matches were generated and followed up on, but again there were no positive matches.

In April 2021, the medical examiner’s office took the step of exhuming the body of John Doe 1980. The body was taken to the Fond du Lac County medical examiner’s office to be processed for DNA collection. Once this was completed, the  collected items were sent to the FBI Laboratory in Quantico, Va. for DNA profiling.  

In January, the sheriff’s office enlisted the assistance of Ramapo College of New Jersey Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center, to perform advanced forensic DNA testing of John Doe 1980 and a genealogy search. 

“As a result of the work performed by students in the Ramapo College IGG Certificate Program, a new investigative lead was developed, resulting in Mr. Grasser’s identification,” Schaub announced. “Subsequent investigation revealed that Grasser had been reported missing by family members in Cook County, Ill. in January 1980. The Grasser family is grateful to everybody involved for ending their 43-year nightmare. During this time, the Grasser family requests privacy so they can grieve and process this information.”

According to the release, the following agencies assisted in resolving this case: Oneida County Buildings and Grounds, Oneida County District Attorney’s Office, City of Rhinelander Parks Department, Vilas County Sheriff’s Office, Eagle River Police Department, Woodruff Police Department, Rhinelander Police Department, Forest County Sheriff’s Office, Waupaca County Sheriff’s Office, Ramapo College of New Jersey Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center, Intermountain Forensics WJFW Newswatch 12, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Wisconsin State Crime Lab, University of Wisconsin Pathology Department , Fond du Lac Medical Examiner’s Office, NamUs-National Missing and Unidentified Persons System and Father Chris Kemp- Nativity of Our Lord Church.

Heather Schaefer may be reached at [email protected].