Skeletal remains recovered off the Maine coast in 2000 identified

Philip Kahn (Courtesy)

AUGUSTA - The remains of a Las Vegas man recovered off the coast of Maine more than 20 years ago have finally identified using advanced FBI DNA technologies.

The skeletal remains of 84-year-old Philip Kahn were found on July 24, 2000, 27 miles off shore near the Grand Manan Banks.

The Maine Office of Chief Medical Examiner has revisited this case over the years and recently announced that positive identification has been made.

Then 84, Kahn left Las Vegas and landed in New York City in July 2000. It's unknown why or how his remains ended up off the coast of Maine. When Kahn's remains were located, the OCME did an autopsy/

DNA and fingerprints were submitted to the FBI, but there were no matches; the DNA sample was uploaded into the FBI's Combined DNA Index. In 2019 the state medical examiner contracted with Parabon Nanolabs to analyze the DNA and attempt forensic genealogy. At that time, it was discovered that he was Ashkenazi Jewish; however, his forensic genealogy produced no viable leads.

Last March the Maine medical examiners office met with the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services, Deceased Persons Identification Services Division (DPI Services) regarding updated technologies available through the FBI.

The OCME submitted the unidentified person's fingerprints to DPI Services in May 2022, and the FBI was able to match Maine's unidentified person fingerprints and dental records to Kahn, who had been reported missing in Las Vegas, in 2000.

Kahn's next of kin has been notified of the identification. Maine's missing and unidentified people are listed in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (namus.gov). This system can be viewed by the public.