Identity of Atlantic City Cold Case Victim Confirmed
Genetic genealogy has identified a man found off the coast of Atlantic City in 1982 as a retired Coast Guard commander.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Financial Planning
Investigators have identified the body of a man found one mile off Atlantic City in May 1982 as Glen Napoleon Burbage. The 59-year-old retired U.S. Coast Guard commander had vanished after flying to the city in 1981.
Why it matters
The breakthrough concludes a 45-year mystery regarding the unidentified individual. The case highlights how advanced forensic genealogy can now resolve long-standing cold cases that had previously stalled due to insufficient DNA matches.
State police investigators confirmed the identity through a one-to-one familial DNA comparison, following a lack of matches in the Combined DNA Index System. The ongoing investigation is supported by a federal Missing and Unidentified Human Remains grant.
The players
Glen Napoleon Burbage
He was a retired U.S. Coast Guard commander who served for 20 years.
New Jersey State Police
This agency led the investigation into the unidentified remains discovered in 1982.
Othram Inc.
This private company specializes in forensic genetic genealogy and assisted in the investigation.
South Carolina Law Enforcement Division
This agency partnered with New Jersey officials to assist in obtaining a familial DNA sample.
The details
After the body was recovered by a fishing boat crew near Raleigh Avenue in 1982, standard testing failed to yield results. Modern genetic genealogy, paired with a sample from the victim's family in South Carolina, successfully linked the remains to the retired veteran.
Timeline
February 1960: Glen Napoleon Burbage retired from the Coast Guard.
March 1981: Burbage flew to Atlantic City and vanished.
May 22, 1982: A fishing boat crew recovered the body.
October 2026: State police officially announced the identity of the remains.
Legal Context
This case follows a pattern set by the Combined DNA Index System, which is a tool for identifying suspects and missing persons. The successful identification represents a leap beyond the limitations of that system, which failed to find a match for this case for decades.
The identification provides closure to a case that has remained an open investigation for 45 years. Residents and visitors with information regarding the disappearance of Burbage are encouraged to contact authorities.
The takeaway
Advancements in forensic science continue to bridge the gap between historic cold cases and modern investigative capabilities. Families of long-missing individuals may now find resolution through increasingly precise genetic mapping techniques.
Further reading
Learn more about local updates on the Financial Planning section of our site.
More information
If you have information regarding this case, send an email to the state police missing persons tip email.
