FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Renowned Forensic Scientist Dies in California

Dr. Ellis R. Kerley, forensic scientist, died Thursday, September 3, 1998 of complications of Leukemia at age 74 

Sept. 3, 1998 -- Dr. Ellis R. Kerley dies today in San Diego, California. Dr. Kerley devoted his life to science, education, his family and community service. Kerley was born and raised in Kentucky. He served in the Army during World War II seeing service in Europe and the Pacific. He received his Masters and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Michigan.

He is best known for his forensic work identifying the remains of many notorious individuals including his work as consultant to the U.S. Marshals in the investigation of Josef Mengele, consultant to NASA for the Challenger Space Shuttle disaster, and the  Department of Defense for the Marine Helicopter crash during the failed rescue attempt of the Hostages in the U.S. Embassy in Iran. Dr. Kerley was a professor at the University of Maryland for 17 years and chairman of the Anthropology department. He was a special consultant to the Select Committee on Assassinations (JFK) for the House of Representatives. He was originally consultant and then appointed scientific director of the Central Identification Lab in Honolulu HI to reorganize the system of recovery and identification of the Vietnam War dead.  Dr. Kerley also served as President of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS). He published hundreds of papers and articles on Forensic science and is best known for his work on forensic evidence. Dr. Kerley’s latest contributions were last year in the prosecution of Bosnian war criminals at The Hague, and a precedent setting case in Canada concerning forensic evidence of ear prints.

Kerley was a dedicated member of St. Elizabeth Seton’s parish in Carlsbad where he was a lector, a lay Eucharistic minister and volunteer educator. He taught many inductees of RCIA, he was member of the Carlsbad Kiwanis Club, and was an active brother of Serra.

There will be a Rosary said at St. Elizabeth Seton’s Church in Carlsbad on 9/7 Monday evening at 7:00pm. Tuesday morning 9/8 at 10:00am a funeral mass will be said and following Kerley’s remains will be laid to rest at the Old Mission San Luis Rey cemetery. Flowers can be sent to the Encinitas Mortuary.

Ellis Kerley is survived by his wife, Mary Adams Kerley, of Lake San Marcos CA, his daughters, MaryElise Kerley of Honolulu HI, Laurelann Bundens of San Diego CA, and Amy Kerley Moorhouse of Atlanta, GA.

For More Information Contact:

Ellis R. Kerley Forensic Sciences Foundation
Tel: 678/467-7248
Internet: info@elliskerleyforensicsciencesfoundation.org