Remains Identified Off Atlantic City After 45 Years

DNA analysis confirmed the identity of a retired U.S. Coast Guard officer found in 1981.

Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Financial Planning

Remains Identified Off Atlantic City After 45 Years

Investigators used DNA analysis to identify remains discovered one mile off the Atlantic City shoreline on May 22, 1981. The deceased was identified as 59-year-old Glen Napoleon Burbage, a retired U.S. Coast Guard chief warrant officer.

Why it matters

The identification concludes a 45-year cold case investigation that had previously stalled due to the limitations of older testing technology. Genetic genealogy continues to provide resolution for families of the missing long after traditional methods fail.

The case was resolved after Ramapo College's Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center utilized SNP DNA testing to overcome failures in previous STR testing. Identity was confirmed in July 2026 using a reference DNA sample from a child of the deceased.

The players

Glen Napoleon Burbage

He was a retired U.S. Coast Guard chief warrant officer from Charleston, South Carolina, who was 59 years old at the time of his death.

Ramapo College Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center

This academic institution specializes in using forensic genetic genealogy to solve cold cases and identify human remains.

The details

Researchers produced a breakthrough lead during a genetic genealogy boot camp in May 2026 that allowed law enforcement to verify the identity of the remains. Burbage, originally from Charleston, South Carolina, was 59 years old when he disappeared.

May 22, 1981: Boaters discovered human remains off Atlantic City.
April 2026: Ramapo College accepted the cold case.
May 2026: The case was studied at a genetic genealogy boot camp.
July 2026: A DNA sample confirmed the identity of the remains.

Legal Context

This identification follows the forensic success pioneered by the 2018 Golden State Killer case. The case illustrates the growing reliance on SNP testing to resolve long-standing cold cases that stumped investigators for decades.

The successful identification provides closure to the family and illustrates how modern genetic databases are currently being leveraged to solve local cold cases. Local residents should remain aware that historical cases in the area may see renewed investigative activity as technology improves.

The takeaway

This case demonstrates how advancements in genomic sequencing allow for the resolution of decades-old mysteries. Families with missing relatives may find new hope as investigative centers continue to apply these tools to historical remains.