After newer forensic tests fail, old photo helps identify remains of U.S. soldier who died in Korean War

February 27, 2026

TL;DR

U.S. Army Sgt. Roger Duquesne's remains, missing since the Korean War in 1950, have been identified.
Newer forensic methods like DNA and dental records were unsuccessful in identifying the remains.
A refined craniofacial superimposition technique, using an old photograph, was key to the identification.
The technique involved comparing a photograph of Duquesne to the recovered skull, noting anatomical similarities, particularly a unique shadow cast by his teeth.
Duquesne was declared dead in 1953 and his remains were previously buried as unknown.
This case demonstrates how older forensic techniques can be refined to achieve identifications decades later.
Over 450 Americans killed in the Korean War have been identified since 1982, with approximately 7,000 still unaccounted for.

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