Human remains found in Arkansas identified nearly 50 years later

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Arkansas State Police says human remains that were found in Arkansas have been identified as a man who was last seen nearly 50 years ago.

According to ASP, on January 13, 1977, human remains were found in a farm field near Highway 79, a few miles west of Marianna, Arkansas. The remains were sent to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory, but the Medical Examiner’s Office was unable to identify the remains or determine the cause of death.

ASP says the Cold Case Unit re-examined the case in March 2024. The remains were sent to Othram Labs, which ASP describes as a Texas-based lab that specializes in advanced DNA analysis and forensic genetic genealogy.

A year later, in June 2025, Othram Labs submitted a report that identified the remains as those of Charles Howard Wallac