Modern forensic science helped solve a long cold case and warm up a historic puzzle. In Batavia, Illinois, investigators identified a skull found hidden within a home wall during renovations in 1978 as that of Esther Granger, a teenager from the 1800s who died more than 150 years ago.
According to CNN, the recent identification of Esther Granger's skull, discovered in 1978 during home renovations, links her remains to descendants a century after her death.
In 1978, a resident renovating a suburban Chicago home unearthed a shocking find: a human skull embedded in the wall. The resident promptly reported the discovery to local authorities, but initial investigations using the DNA testing technology available at the time yielded limited results. Investigators determined that the skull belonged to a young woman who lived before 1900, but they could not uncover its origin or identity.
The Batavia Depot Museum stored the skull, where it became somewhat forgotten until a 2021 cleanup prompted a renewed look. In 2023, Kane County officials, aware of advances in DNA profiling, engaged Othram, a forensic investigation firm, to revisit the case with fresh eyes and new technology.
Othram's expert genealogists constructed a family tree for the unknown woman, revealing her identity as Esther Granger, born in October 1848 in Indiana. Historical records and DNA evidence confirmed that Esther sadly passed away in 1866 at the young age of 17 due to complications from childbirth.
With a more precise DNA profile at hand, investigators reached out to potential living relatives, leading to a key breakthrough via Wayne Svilar, Esther Granger’s great-great-grandson. Initially skeptical, Svilar submitted his DNA, confirming a direct link to the remains found decades earlier. "To be completely honest, we didn’t believe a word of it," Svilar recalled. It took several conversations for the reality of the connection to sink in.
The emotional impact on the family was profound, as Svilar described a mix of shock and closure upon confirming that the discovered skull was indeed that of his ancestor. "It took two or three phone calls for me to believe it," he admitted, reflecting the initial disbelief that turned into significant emotional closure for the family.
Officials suspected that grave robbing might explain how Esther's skull ended up over 80 miles away from her original resting place in Merrillville, Indiana. Kane County Coroner Robert Russell elaborated on the condition and suspicions surrounding the finds. "There is no absolute answer as to how Esther ended up in that wall or where the rest of her body is located, but being a victim of grave robbing does fit the bill," Russell noted.
This hypothesis is supported by the historical context of the time, where body snatching was unfortunately common for various unsavory reasons, including medical research and the black market.
Following the conclusive identification and family reconnection, Esther Granger’s remains were finally laid to rest once again. This time, her reburial was at West Batavia Cemetery, not far from where her skull was unexpectedly found. The ceremony provided a dignified resolution to a disrupted eternal rest and offered her descendants a place to honor her memory.
As the case closes on this unusual situation, the application of advanced DNA analysis and genealogical research has proven crucial in bridging the past and present, allowing today’s technology to heal yesterday’s disturbances. This reconnection not only brings peace to a lost soul but also underscores the profound impact of forensic science in solving mysteries that once seemed forever unsolvable.
