In a remarkable turn of events, the jawbone of U.S. Marine Corps Captain Everett Leland Yager, who tragically lost his life during a military training exercise in 1951, has been identified after spending over 70 years as part of a child's rock collection in northern Arizona. The jawbone was discovered by the boy's mother in 2002 and was eventually referred to the Ramapo College Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center in New Jersey for further analysis.

College students and a high school intern at the genealogy center worked tirelessly on the case, eventually obtaining a DNA sample from Yager's daughter that confirmed the jawbone belonged to the Marine Corps Captain. The discovery has shed light on a mysterious chapter in Yager's story, as it was previously assumed that all of his remains had been recovered and buried in Palmyra, Missouri after the 1951 accident in Riverside County, California.

The genealogy experts involved in the case believe that a scavenger, possibly a bird, may have picked up the jawbone and deposited it in Arizona, where it was unknowingly added to the child's rock collection. The resolution of this cold case has brought closure to Yager's family and highlighted the incredible work being done by the investigative genetic genealogy center at Ramapo College.

The high school intern, Ethan Schwartz, who played a crucial role in solving the case, is believed to be the youngest person ever to contribute to an investigative genetic genealogy case resolution. The unexpected discovery of Yager's jawbone serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving the memory of those who have served their country, even in the most unlikely of circumstances. Plans are now underway to reunite the remains with Yager's family, bringing a sense of peace and closure to a long-standing mystery.