PORTLAND, Ore. — More than two decades after skeletal remains were discovered in a wooded area of southwest Portland, authorities have identified the man as Robert Lee Horton, who was 47 at the time of his death.
The remains were found on Dec. 19, 2004, by two individuals exploring a wooded area near Riverview Cemetery. The pair immediately alerted law enforcement, prompting a response from the Portland Police Bureau and a medicolegal death investigator from Multnomah County.
Investigators located not only human skeletal remains but also signs of a makeshift campsite, including a fabric lean-to, cooking pans, food items, and clothing. The clothing was collected as evidence, and the remains were transferred to the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office for examination.
An autopsy and skeletal analysis determined the individual was a white male between 45 and 55 years old, standing between 5 feet 6 inches and 5 feet 9 inches tall. However, the cause and manner of death could not be determined, and the case remained unsolved for years.
In 2010, a DNA sample was submitted to the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification for analysis and entered into national databases, including CODIS and NamUs. Despite ongoing efforts to match the profile with missing persons cases, investigators were unable to identify the individual.
The case saw renewed momentum in 2018 when the medical examiner’s office received a federal grant to apply advanced DNA testing techniques. Investigators partnered with Parabon NanoLabs to conduct genetic genealogy testing. A more detailed DNA profile was developed, and in 2022, a genetic genealogy report identified several distant familial matches. Still, progress remained limited.
In late 2025, officials revisited the case with updated technology and data. By early 2026, Horton, who was born in 1957 and had been missing since 2004, emerged as a likely match.
According to investigators, Horton had been living in Hawaii before relocating to Portland in 2004. Family members reported losing contact with him shortly after his move, raising concerns when he failed to retrieve mail and maintain communication.
Detectives later obtained a DNA reference sample from Horton’s elderly mother. In April 2026, a kinship analysis confirmed with 100 percent certainty that the remains belonged to Horton. His family was notified of the identification, though authorities noted his mother died shortly afterward.
“While no amount of time can lessen the loss experienced by Robert Horton’s loved ones, we hope this identification brings a measure of closure and answers they have long deserved,” Portland Police Chief Bob Day said in a statement.
State forensic anthropologist Hailey Collord-Stalder highlighted the collaborative effort behind the case, crediting advances in genetic genealogy and coordination among agencies.
The case remains open, and investigators have not determined the cause or manner of Horton’s death.
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