“Goodsell was only 29 years old when he died, meaning that he spent more years as ‘the skull that washed up on the beach’ than he ever did as a living, breathing man,” the college noted in a press release.
A Tragic Voyage: The Shipwreck of the Oriental
Historical research revealed that the Oriental left Connecticut bound for Philadelphia, transporting 60 tons of marble. The ship likely sprang a leak and sank less than a mile from shore. All five crew members, including Captain Goodsell, perished in the storm.
Two 1844 newspaper articles led the students to focus on Goodsell. By March 2025, a DNA sample was obtained from one of Goodsell’s great-grandsons. A positive match was confirmed on April 8, 2025, solving the mystery at last.
Law Enforcement and Scientific Commitment
“Identifying human remains is one of the most solemn and challenging responsibilities law enforcement is charged with,” said Chief of County Detectives Patrick Snyder of the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office. “Behind every case is a promise: that no one will be forgotten.”
