Solving a 95-year-old mystery: The identification of Sandy Point Man

In 2017, a 95-year-old near complete human skeleton was discovered near Wilson’s Promontory. With the identity of the “Sandy Point Man” a complete mystery, the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine (and their collaborators New South Wales Police Force and Australian Federal Police) utilised the emerging technology of Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy to piece together the puzzle.

Join us at the Victorian Archives Centre to hear from the experts who worked on this ground-breaking case. Learn how anthropology, odontology, molecular biology, and radiocarbon dating were used alongside DNA and historical research to painstakingly build a family tree for the Sandy Point Man and trace it back to a fateful day in 1928.

And for those unable to make it to the Victorian Archives Centre, we'll be live-streaming the event via Zoom - select the online option when reserving your ticket.

Dr Dadna Hartman: Manager Molecular Biology, Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine. Forensic expert committed to the identification of deceased persons, particularly long-term missing persons and cold cases, through the application of DNA methodologies.

Fiona Leahy: Manager Legal, Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine. Lawyer and amateur historian interested in the contribution of historical research and genealogy to forensic science to assist in solving long-term unidentified human remains cases.

Dr Runa Daniel: Research Fellow Affiliate, Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine. International Forensic DNA Intelligence expert specialising in advanced DNA technologies in unidentified human remains cases and criminal investigations.

Host or Publisher Public Record Office Victoria