A skull found in an Illinois home identified as that of a teenager who died 150 years ago

Skull found in the walls approx Illinois House over four decades ago, in 1978, it was finally identified.

The skull, originally found while renovating a home in Batavia, was forgotten until March 2021, when it was finally sent to the coroner’s office.

An Indiana teenager identified as 17-year-old Esther Granger died more than 150 years ago, according to Kane County Coroner’s office.

An artistic interpretation of 17-year-old Esther Granger, who died in 1866 in Merrillville, Indiana. (Kane County, Illinois, Coroner’s Office via AP)

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The coroner’s office held approx press conference where they revealed the identity of the owner and how they managed to solve the case by building a DNA profile.

“Esther was born October 6, 1848 in Indiana. In 1865, at the age of 16, she married Charles Granger and within months became pregnant with their first child,” Coroner Bob Russell said at a news conference. “In May 1866, Esther gave give birth to a daughter but she lost her life soon after due to postpartum complications,” he said. Granger was buried in Indiana, and the baby was named Esther in her honor.

Kane County Coroner Rob Russell with an artist’s version of Esther Granger’s likeness speaks during a news conference on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in St. Charles, III. Investigators determined that a skull discovered in the wall of an Illinois home in 1978 belonged to an Indiana teenager who died more than 150 years ago, authorities announced Thursday. ((Brian Hill/Daily Herald via AP))

It’s still unclear how the skull ended up in the house, but Russell has a theory.

“We will never know for sure, but through the documents and reasoned reasoning, we have come to a common-sense theory: We believe Esther was the victim of grave robbing,” Russell said.

“Grave robbing was quite common in those days because it was quite profitable. Grave robbers earned the equivalent of three or four months’ earnings of an average person working 60 hours a week,” he added.

Officials built, among others: family tree and were able to locate Granger’s great-grandson, Wayne Svilar, 69, a retired sergeant from Portland, Oregon, through a DNA sample, as well as paint a picture of her possible appearance.

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A 3D printed reproduction of a skull found in the wall of a house undergoing renovation in 1978 can be seen during a press conference on Thursday, October 24, 2024 in St. Charles, Illinois. Investigators determined that a skull discovered in Authorities announced Thursday that the wall of a 1978 Illinois home belonged to an Indiana teenager who died more than 150 years ago. (Brian Hill via ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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Svilar told a news conference that he was initially cautious about the reports.

“Honestly, we didn’t believe a word,” he said at a news conference. “I said, ‘You can keep talking if you want, but I don’t believe you.'”

He also claims that the sketch bears a resemblance to his own mother.

Svilar went to the place of internment, where he delivered a eulogy. Granger was buried in West Batavia Cemetery, where she has an engraved stone tower.