(Photo Source: fox4kc.com)

Remains of outlaw found in Idaho cave

Thanks to rapidly advancing DNA technology, a set of human remains discovered in an Idaho cave more than 40 years ago have been identified as those of Joseph Henry Loveless. Loveless was a wanted fugitive who escaped from prison after killing his wife.

Loveless was last seen alive in 1916. In 1979, a family camping near Buffalo Cave in Idaho discovered human remains in a shallow grave.

“It was in August 1979 that a family hunting for arrowheads in Buffalo Cave found some of Loveless’ remains wrapped in burlap,” USA Today reported. “Twelve years later a girl exploring the same cave system found a mummified hand. More excavating by investigators then turned up an arm and two legs nearby, also wrapped in burlap. The head was never found.”

The body was identified by Lee Bingham Redgrave, who works for the nonprofit group DNA Doe. Redgrave constructed an elaborate family tree for Loveless, eventually confirming the DNA matched that of Loveless’s 87-year-old grandson.

Redgrave said they don’t know who killed Loveless, but DNA technology might lead them to solve the murder as well.

“The really cool thing, though, is that his wanted poster from his last escape is described as wearing the same clothing that he was found in, so that leads us to put his death date at likely 1916,” Redgrave said.