In 1979, a family searching for arrowheads in Buffalo Cave, a remote cavern in Idaho, stumbled upon a chilling discovery: a mummified human torso wrapped in burlap, shallowly buried in the cave’s depths. The remains baffled forensic experts due to their seemingly ancient yet recent characteristics, leading to decades of speculation and unresolved investigations. It wasn’t until 2019, through advancements in DNA analysis and genetic genealogy, that the remains were identified as belonging to Joseph Henry Loveless—a notorious criminal who escaped prison in 1916 and was murdered shortly after. This case not only showcases the power of modern forensic science but also stands as the oldest identified murder victim in U.S. history.
The Discovery and Initial Mystery
The case began on August 26, 1979, when a family exploring Buffalo Cave (part of the Civil Defense Caves system) near Dubois, Clark County, Idaho, in search of Native American artifacts, uncovered a headless torso wrapped in burlap, buried about 18 inches deep. The remains were partially preserved due to the cave’s dry, cold conditions, with some skin and muscle still intact, giving them a mummified appearance.
Forensic experts from Idaho State University (ISU), the Smithsonian Institution, and the FBI analyzed the remains. They estimated the victim was a European male, around 40 years old at death, with reddish-brown hair, and the time since death could range from six months to over a decade. However, the preservation and clothing—described as a white shirt with blue stripes, a maroon sweater, and dark trousers—suggested the remains might be older, creating a puzzling contradiction. The body was dismembered with multiple sharp tools, likely to conceal it, and no head was found.
By 1991, the case gained further attention when a young girl exploring the cave discovered a mummified hand. Subsequent excavations recovered an arm and two legs, also wrapped in burlap. Despite international interest, the identity of the “Buffalo Cave John Doe” remained a mystery for decades, with traditional investigative methods yielding no answers.
The Life and Crimes of Joseph Henry Loveless
Joseph Henry Loveless was born on December 3, 1870, in Payson, Utah Territory, to a pioneer Mormon family. His parents were Joseph Jackson Loveless and Sarah Jane Scriggins, early settlers affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Loveless’s grandfather, a polygamist with four wives, contributed to a large extended family with hundreds of relatives.
Loveless married twice: first to Harriet Jane Savage in 1899, with whom he had one child before divorcing in 1904 for “abandonment,” and later to Agnes Octavia Caldwell in 1905, with whom he had four children. He was a career criminal, notorious for bootlegging, counterfeiting, and other illegal activities in Idaho. Using aliases like Walter Cairns, Charles Smith, and Walt Currans, Loveless was known for his knack for escaping custody—once sawing through jail bars with a blade hidden in his shoe and even stopping a moving train to flee.
In early May 1916, Loveless was accused of murdering his wife Agnes with an axe while she slept, witnessed by two of their children. Neighbors reported prior arguments. He was arrested and held at the St. Anthony, Idaho jail. At Agnes’s funeral on May 16, one of Loveless’s sons told attendees his father would soon escape, as “he never stays locked up long.” True to form, on May 18, 1916, Loveless sawed through the bars and escaped at 5:30 p.m. while the jailer was at dinner. Wanted posters described him wearing a light-colored hat, brown coat, maroon sweater, and blue underwear over black pants—partially matching the clothing found on the remains.
Loveless is believed to have been murdered shortly after his escape, possibly by Agnes’s family in retaliation. His dismembered body remained hidden, and the case stayed open with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office as of 2020.
The Breakthrough and Resolution
In 2019, a breakthrough came when anthropologists from ISU, including Samantha Blatt and Amy Michael, collaborated with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office to enlist the DNA Doe Project, a nonprofit specializing in identifying unknown remains through DNA. Genetic material was extracted from a leg bone fragment, and Othram Inc. assisted with sequencing.
Genetic genealogist Lee Bingham Redgrave constructed a family tree from the DNA, tracing lineage back to Mormon pioneers in Utah. The process was complex due to Loveless’s grandfather’s polygamy, resulting in hundreds of relatives. Using old newspaper articles, gravestones (confirming Loveless’s headstone was a cenotaph with no body), and records, they narrowed down candidates. On November 5, 2019, the DNA Doe Project made a tentative identification; by December 31, 2019, DNA from Loveless’s 87-year-old grandson in California confirmed the identity—exactly 40 years, 4 months, and 5 days after the initial discovery.
Redgrave noted, “What’s fascinating is his last wanted poster described clothing identical to what was found on the body, helping us estimate his death around 1916.”
Significance of the Case
Joseph Henry Loveless is recognized as the oldest identified murder victim in U.S. history, with his death around 1916 and identification in 2019—one of the oldest cases solved using forensic genetic genealogy. The case highlights the advancements in forensic science, particularly DNA sequencing, in resolving cold cases. It also serves as a reminder of countless unsolved mysteries, with crimes lying dormant for decades until new technology or information emerges.
Sheriff Bart May stated the case remains open, with hopes that new leads from old family photos or un-digitized newspaper articles might reveal the killer. Loveless’s story is not just a personal tragedy but a testament to the persistence of justice, however delayed.