The mystery of what happened to former Fossil mayor Clarence Asher has been solved after nearly 20 years. Advanced DNA testing confirmed that skeletal remains found in Washington belong to him. The discovery brings closure to the Asher family after decades of uncertainty.
According to Unilad, the incident happened on September 5, 2006. Clarence Edwin ‘Ed’ Asher, 72, went out on his boat to go crabbing in Tillamook Bay, Oregon, around 10:00 AM. He had retired from working as a lineman technician for the Fossil Telephone Company and serving as the town’s mayor. When he didn’t come back by 3:00 PM, his wife reported him missing to the Oregon State Police.
The US Coast Guard launched a large search operation. They used two utility boats, a motor lifeboat, a skiff, and several helicopters. They found his 21-foot boat about half a mile from the Garibaldi Marina. Live crab were still on board, and two of his three buoys were found. However, no life jacket was recovered. His wife told authorities he didn’t usually wear one and never learned how to swim.
Authorities believe Asher fell overboard and drowned
The Coast Guard searched for 11 more hours but had to stop the next afternoon. Asher was presumed to have drowned. A memorial service was held on October 14, 2006. Everyone thought his body was lost in the Pacific Ocean.
Two months later, skeletal remains washed up on a beach in Taholah village on the Quinault Indian Reservation in Grays Harbor County, Washington. The Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office and the Grays Harbor County Coroner’s Office found the remains belonged to an adult man. He was likely between 20 and 60 years old, about 5 feet 9 inches tall, and weighed 170 to 180 pounds. They couldn’t identify him, so he became known as Grays Harbor County John Doe.
Last year, the Grays Harbor County Coroner’s Office worked with the King County Medical Examiner. They sent forensic evidence to scientists at Othram in The Woodlands, Texas. The scientists used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing to create a DNA profile from the remains. This advanced DNA testing can pull usable data from samples that were previously impossible to test. Similar forensic breakthroughs have helped solve other mysterious death investigations across the country.
Experts analyzed the profile using a genetic genealogy search and compared it to public databases. This search created new leads for law enforcement. A follow-up investigation positively identified the remains as Ed Asher. The testing was funded by the Washington State Legislature, Governor Ferguson, and Attorney General Nick Brown.
The identification gives the family the answer they’ve waited two decades for. DNA technology has proven essential in solving shocking crimes involving people who seemed to live ordinary lives. People who have taken consumer DNA tests can help by opting into databases that assist law enforcement. This increases the chances of successful identifications and helps solve cold cases.
Published: Jan 14, 2026 03:15 pm