Septic Tank Sam finally has a name – after 46 years..The man, dubbed Septic Tank Sam, was found in April of 1977 in a septic tank on an abandoned farm near Tofield. He has now been identified as Gordon Edwin Sanderson, of Edmonton. He was identified through the use of the novel forensic technique of Genetic Genealogy..“In October 2017, the Alta. RCMP Missing Persons Unit (MPU) announced a National DNA program focusing on the identification of unidentified remains was being launched. The program allows investigators to obtain DNA from people who have a missing family member for potential match against unidentified human remains on the DNA index. It was hoped that this new program would provide some answers in this case,” said RCMP in a release..“In 2019, Alta. RCMP MPU sent a partial DNA profile from the 1977 unidentified human remains that had been developed in 2012 to be compared to this new Canadian DNA database, without success..“It would take the emerging field of Genetic Genealogy to provide a break in this case. In 2020, Alberta RCMP MPU and the OCME sent biological samples to Othram Labs of Woodlands, Texas in the hopes a full-DNA profile suitable for analysis could be developed. Othram was successful in developing a DNA profile and then searched the profile against public DNA databanks. As a result, they were able to develop a “family tree” with a number of possible relatives to the unidentified remains.”.RCMP conducted further investigation and with the help of those identified relatives, and were able to obtain familial DNA samples that were then sent for forensic testing in August 2020. In October 2020, RCMP received confirmation that the familial DNA was a match to the 1977 unidentified human remains..Alberta RCMP were able to confirm that the identity of the homicide victim in 1977 was Gordon Edwin Sanderson of Edmonton, who would have been approximately 25-years-of-age at the time of his death. In discovering Mr. Sanderson’s identity, the Alberta RCMP was able to provide his relatives with some information on what had happened to their loved one some 40 years prior.. Screen-Shot-2021-07-01-at-1.16.33-PM-1True crime book with chapter on Septic Tank Sam. Courtesy Peter Smith .The Alberta RCMP were also able to provide family members with information on Gordon Sanderson’s brother, who had also lost contact with family for many years and unfortunately passed away in Edmonton several years ago..Legendary Calgary Sun crime reporter Peter Smith recalls the case of “Septic Tank Sam” as one of the most puzzling of his career..“In all the 20 cases covered in my true crime books this was the only unsolved case among them, making it the most mysterious of all – until now,” the now retired Smith told the Western Standard..RCMP are now looking for anyone who they may not have spoken to, who may have spoken to Gordon Sanderson before his death, or may have information regarding this homicide. Please contact the Tofield RCMP Detachment at 780-662-3353, or your local police. You can also reach the Alberta RCMP Historical Homicide Unit via email to RCMP/KHHU-KHHU.GRC@rcmp
Septic Tank Sam finally has a name – after 46 years..The man, dubbed Septic Tank Sam, was found in April of 1977 in a septic tank on an abandoned farm near Tofield. He has now been identified as Gordon Edwin Sanderson, of Edmonton. He was identified through the use of the novel forensic technique of Genetic Genealogy..“In October 2017, the Alta. RCMP Missing Persons Unit (MPU) announced a National DNA program focusing on the identification of unidentified remains was being launched. The program allows investigators to obtain DNA from people who have a missing family member for potential match against unidentified human remains on the DNA index. It was hoped that this new program would provide some answers in this case,” said RCMP in a release..“In 2019, Alta. RCMP MPU sent a partial DNA profile from the 1977 unidentified human remains that had been developed in 2012 to be compared to this new Canadian DNA database, without success..“It would take the emerging field of Genetic Genealogy to provide a break in this case. In 2020, Alberta RCMP MPU and the OCME sent biological samples to Othram Labs of Woodlands, Texas in the hopes a full-DNA profile suitable for analysis could be developed. Othram was successful in developing a DNA profile and then searched the profile against public DNA databanks. As a result, they were able to develop a “family tree” with a number of possible relatives to the unidentified remains.”.RCMP conducted further investigation and with the help of those identified relatives, and were able to obtain familial DNA samples that were then sent for forensic testing in August 2020. In October 2020, RCMP received confirmation that the familial DNA was a match to the 1977 unidentified human remains..Alberta RCMP were able to confirm that the identity of the homicide victim in 1977 was Gordon Edwin Sanderson of Edmonton, who would have been approximately 25-years-of-age at the time of his death. In discovering Mr. Sanderson’s identity, the Alberta RCMP was able to provide his relatives with some information on what had happened to their loved one some 40 years prior.. Screen-Shot-2021-07-01-at-1.16.33-PM-1True crime book with chapter on Septic Tank Sam. Courtesy Peter Smith .The Alberta RCMP were also able to provide family members with information on Gordon Sanderson’s brother, who had also lost contact with family for many years and unfortunately passed away in Edmonton several years ago..Legendary Calgary Sun crime reporter Peter Smith recalls the case of “Septic Tank Sam” as one of the most puzzling of his career..“In all the 20 cases covered in my true crime books this was the only unsolved case among them, making it the most mysterious of all – until now,” the now retired Smith told the Western Standard..RCMP are now looking for anyone who they may not have spoken to, who may have spoken to Gordon Sanderson before his death, or may have information regarding this homicide. Please contact the Tofield RCMP Detachment at 780-662-3353, or your local police. You can also reach the Alberta RCMP Historical Homicide Unit via email to RCMP/KHHU-KHHU.GRC@rcmp