ST. TAMMANY PARISH, La. — A skull that was found seven years ago in Big Branch Wildlife Refuge has finally been identified.
The St. Tammany Parish Coroner’s Office worked with the Forensic Anthropology and Computer Enhancement Services (FACES) Lab at LSU and FBI’s Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) to identify the John Doe skull as Gary A. Maggio.
Maggio was a military veteran and Slidell area resident who had never been reported missing, according to the coroner's office. Officials believe he was 67 years old when he died.
The coroner's office says DNA from Maggio's skull was sent to a private lab, which produced a Genetic Genealogy Profile. Next, the private lab found a genetic match, and Cold Case Investigator Chris Knoblauch contacted the match.
The match was Maggio's niece. She told investigators that she had an uncle who had lived in Louisiana, but who had not been heard from since 2016.
"A DNA reference sample she provided confirmed the decedent was her uncle," the coroner's office said.
Maggio’s niece also told investigators that her uncle was an avid outdoorsman and camper, so his presence in the wildlife refuge is not suspicious on its face.
“The cause and manner of death still remain undetermined, as there was no sign of trauma on the skull,” Tape said. “That the skull was the only bit of remains found is not necessarily indicative of criminal wrongdoing – nor even of suicide – as the marsh area is subject to tidal influence. The skull could have been deposited there during a surge, or other remains could have been washed away or taken away by animal activity. Without further information, we will never know.
Tape and Knoblauch said that citizens should always report family members missing and preserve their DNA – from combs, toothbrushes, etc. – to be stored in national databases.
“For now, we can give some measure of closure to Mr. Maggio’s survivors, who never knew what became of him,” Tape said. “With fresh public input, we might also glean more information to determine how and under what circumstances he perished.”
A photo of a younger Mr. Maggio provided by his niece.
Anyone with information about Maggio’s last days or demise is asked to call Knoblauch at 985-781-1150.
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