Authorities have identified the body of a man whose body was found in the Missouri River 46 years ago.
Attorney General Marty Jackley said the Division of Criminal Investigation used advanced forensics techniques to identify the unknown man as Stephen Earl Boice. His last known address was Seattle, Washington.
“Modern Technology has assisted law enforcement in solving this 46-year-old cold case,” Jackley said in a press release. “An autopsy was conducted which resulted in a probable cause of death by drowning and there is no further evidence of foul play.”
His remains were found near Pierre in August of 1976. Law enforcement was unable to identify him.
In 2020, the case was reopened by Pierre Police Department Detective Trevor Swanson. Swanson became a special agent with the South Dakota DCI in 2022, but he remained assigned to the case. Under his guidance, the South Dakota Forensics Library was able to identify Boice using DNA and fingerprints.
Jackley said his office has notified Boice’s family.
“I want to thank everyone who spent so much time on this case,” said Attorney General Jackley. “Thanks to them, this family now has some closure about what happened to their loved one.”
When authorities were initially unable to identify him, Boice was buried at Riverside Cemetery with a grave marked as "Unknown Man." Throughout the years, the gravesite was tended to by Gertrude Stone of Pierre and then later by her daughter, Cheryl Stone.
A permanent headstone marker with his name has now been placed at his gravesite, Jackley said.