DNA proves body is her son

Randy Mitchell Staff Writer

Ada September 19, 2008 03:43 pm

— DNA testing has proven once and for all a body found in Ada in 1995 is that of Daniel Lee Furr.
Gale Whitson, Furr’s mother, has accepted the irrefutable results from a DNA lab test proving the remains of the body found are those of her son.
“In a way, it’s a relief that we now know for sure,” Whitson said. “It’s brought it all back up again and the pain is still there, but at least I’m not wondering where he could be and why he didn’t ever come back home.”
On July 11, 1995, several Boy Scouts were exploring the area near the First Presbyterian Church in the southeast section of Ada when they happened upon Furr’s badly decomposed body. It was found below a 30-foot embankment in an abandoned quarry pit on the property of the old Ada brick plant. Furr had been missing for several days.
Clothed in shorts, a tank top and tennis shoes, the remains were sent to the state medical examiner’s office. Investigators transporting the body didn’t check the pockets of the shorts for fear of destroying evidence.
Then sheriff Jeff Glase said the body was identified through dental records.
“At the time of the funeral, I had no doubt it was Daniel. The clothes on the body were his and he was missing,” Whitson said.
Doubts crept in when Whitson received a copy of the autopsy report. There were several discrepancies she could not explain, such as a height difference.
At first, investigators reported the body was of someone believed to be in their 20s. Whitson was shown pictures of the body at the crime scene and the victim’s hair appeared to be very long. The authorities suggested Whitson was in denial.
The medical examiner listed the cause of death as trauma to the chest, but did not speculate on what may have caused the trauma.

The medical examiner’s report said the body sustained several “stab-like” wounds, but did not specify wether or not those wounds might have had anything to do with the victim’s death.
The case was never closed, but had gone cold. Pontotoc County Undersheriff Joe Glover said DNA evidence sent to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation in 1995 was recently sent back to the sheriff’s office in May 2008.
“I was going through it and I realized there was some blood evidence and some hair evidence from the 1995 case,” Glover said. “After consulting with District Attorney Chris Ross, he felt it would be in our best interest to have it tested and he told us to keep part of the sample for our records and send part down for testing.”
It took two weeks for the lab to have the results and after 13 long years of not knowing for sure, Whitson had the answer from the lab, “He is your son.”
The first thing Whitson did was share the news with friends and drove straight to the cemetery and cried. There were so many things about his death that just didn’t make sense to her, and she said she is still determined to find out what really happened to her son.
Whitson believes a more thorough, professional investigation should have been done years ago, but is thankful for the recent help Glover has given.
“I’m hoping someone has information about someone involved in Daniel’s death and will come forward after all this time,” Whitson said. “Maybe a key witness is out there who isn’t afraid to come forward and help us bring whoever did this to justice. Daniel deserves this.”
Glover said the investigation into Furr’s death is ongoing. Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest and or conviction for this crime is encouraged to phone the Pontotoc County sheriff’s office at (580) 332-4169, OSBI Agent Gary Perkinson, (580) 332-5581 or e-mail the family of Daniel Furr at Danielleefurr@yahoo.com.
(Former AEN reporter Liz Brewer contributed to this story.)

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