Chinatown Hunt Intensifies: Suffolk DA Races to Unmask 'Asian Doe' Identity

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney has launched a renewed and extensive public outreach effort to identify "Asian Doe," a young man whose skeletal remains were discovered east of Gilgo Beach in April 2011. This push comes after traditional investigative techniques, including DNA analysis, had previously failed to yield substantial leads in the decade-long cold case.

Investigators found "Asian Doe" clad in women's attire, with officials initially estimating he had been dead about three years prior to discovery. More recently, District Attorney Tierney indicated that the victim may have died six years or more before his remains were found. His age at the time of death was estimated to be between 17 and 23 years old. The cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma. Further analysis indicated the victim was of southern Han ancestry, which constitutes the largest ethnic group in China.

Tierney's new initiative focuses on investigative genetic genealogy, a technique that compares unknown genetic material to that of possible relatives to generate leads. To gather the necessary DNA reference samples, his office has targeted the Chinese community. This began with the distribution of Chinese-language flyers to New York’s Asian news media. These flyers, delivered on a Monday, included an artist's reconstruction of the victim's face from three views, one depicting him with longer, female-style hair. The handouts emphasized the need for DNA samples and assured confidentiality regarding genetic materials collected. Hugh Mo, a former NYPD deputy commissioner and assistant district attorney, has been instrumental in helping investigators connect with the Asian community in Manhattan, highlighting the cultural importance of a proper burial and "closure for the soul" within Chinese tradition.

A significant part of this outreach occurred on a Tuesday during the NYPD Fifth Precinct’s National Night Out event in Chinatown. District Attorney Tierney and volunteers from the Gilgo Beach Homicide Task Force were present to solicit potential leads and collect DNA samples. The event, held on Division Street, proved to be a "resounding success," according to Suffolk Assistant District Attorney Andrew Lee. Tierney expressed that they collected "more than I expected," with all 24 DNA kits brought by his staff containing genetic samples. Chinese-language media publicity significantly contributed to the turnout, with scores of residents massing near Tierney's booth, some providing samples and others taking informational flyers.

The ultimate goal of analyzing these DNA samples is to hopefully identify a relative of "Asian Doe," develop investigative leads, and eventually determine his identity, as well as how he was killed, and potentially identify a suspect. Despite the Gilgo Beach investigation being one of the most publicized murder probes in recent history, some attendees at the Chinatown event were reportedly unaware of the "Asian Doe" case. Tierney's office plans to conduct additional DNA outreach in other Chinese communities across New York City, likening the process to a lottery where "the more samples you get the more chance you have of getting a genetic match." It is important to note that while "Asian Doe's" remains were found during the broader Gilgo Beach serial killer investigation, Rex A. Heuermann, who was convicted for the murders of seven other women whose remains were found nearby, has not been charged in "Asian Doe's" killing, and the case remains open.