Clyde Snow
Encyclopedia
Clyde Snow is a well known U.S.
forensic anthropologist. Some of his skeletal confirmations include John F. Kennedy
, victims of John Wayne Gacy
, King Tutankhamun
, victims of the Oklahoma City bombing
, and Dr. Josef Mengele.
Snow started his higher education at the New Mexico Military Institute
were he earned an Associated Degree. He then flunked out of Southern Methodist University
. After that he attended Eastern New Mexico University
to earn his Bachelor's Degree. His master's degree in Zoology was then earned at Texas Technical University. Finally he attended University of Arizona
and achieved his Ph.D. in Anthropology
.
In 1968, Snow became the head of the department of Forensic Anthropology at Civil Aeromedical Institute. By 1972, the American Academy of Forensic Sciences
recognized forensic work as a specialty of anthropology.
Since 1979, Snow turned his focus to forensics exclusively. He worked with various human rights
groups and brought to attention mass graves of civilians in Argentina
, and spent five years training many of the founding members of the Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team
(Equipo Argentino de Antropología Forense, EAAF). So far at least five officers in Argentina were convicted partially due to Snow's work in the mass grave
s. The success of this mission led to the creation of Guatemalan Forensic Anthropology Team as well when survivors of the Guatemalan Civil War
sought his help in 1991.
In 1991, Snow traveled to San Vicente, Bolivia
, to carry out a search for the remains of the American outlaws Butch Cassidy
and the Sundance Kid. However the exact location of the grave was unknown at least to within some yards, and the grave excavated transpired to contain the remains of a German miner named Gustav Zimmer. No remains were found whose DNA
matched that of Parker and Longabaugh's families.
In 1997, Snow worked on mass graves found in the territory of the former Yugoslavia
. Snow also participated in a re-enactment of an excavation of Butch Masters in Illinois
that aired on The Discovery Channel episode Science Detectives on Discover Magazine
.
In 2004, Snow appeared on the Unsolved History
documentary television series episode Hunting Nazis on The Discovery Channel.
As of 2005, Snow lives with his wife near Oklahoma City
. He continues teaching at the University of Oklahoma
, and he also does occasional lectures for Forensic Science organizations and law enforcement personnel.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
forensic anthropologist. Some of his skeletal confirmations include John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
, victims of John Wayne Gacy
John Wayne Gacy
John Wayne Gacy, Jr. was an American serial killer, rapist and clown who sexually assaulted and murdered at least 33 teenage boys and young men between 1972 and 1978. Gacy buried 26 of his victims in the crawlspace of his home, buried three others elsewhere on his property, and discarded the...
, King Tutankhamun
Tutankhamun
Tutankhamun , Egyptian , ; approx. 1341 BC – 1323 BC) was an Egyptian pharaoh of the 18th dynasty , during the period of Egyptian history known as the New Kingdom...
, victims of the Oklahoma City bombing
Oklahoma City bombing
The Oklahoma City bombing was a terrorist bomb attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. It was the most destructive act of terrorism on American soil until the September 11, 2001 attacks. The Oklahoma blast claimed 168 lives, including 19...
, and Dr. Josef Mengele.
Snow started his higher education at the New Mexico Military Institute
New Mexico Military Institute
New Mexico Military Institute is a state-supported educational institution. NMMI is located in Roswell, New Mexico, United States. It is sometimes referred to as the West Point of the West and it is the only state-supported military college located in the western United States. NMMI includes a...
were he earned an Associated Degree. He then flunked out of Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
. After that he attended Eastern New Mexico University
Eastern New Mexico University
Eastern New Mexico University , frequently called Eastern, is a state university in Portales, Roosevelt County, New Mexico, USA...
to earn his Bachelor's Degree. His master's degree in Zoology was then earned at Texas Technical University. Finally he attended University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
and achieved his Ph.D. in Anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
.
In 1968, Snow became the head of the department of Forensic Anthropology at Civil Aeromedical Institute. By 1972, the American Academy of Forensic Sciences
American Academy of Forensic Sciences
The American Academy of Forensic Sciences is a professional society for people in all areas of forensics.For over sixty years, the AAFS has served a distinguished and diverse membership. Its nearly 6,000 members are divided into eleven sections spanning the forensic enterprise...
recognized forensic work as a specialty of anthropology.
Since 1979, Snow turned his focus to forensics exclusively. He worked with various human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
groups and brought to attention mass graves of civilians in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, and spent five years training many of the founding members of the Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team
Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team
The Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team is an Argentine not-for-profit scientific non-governmental organisation...
(Equipo Argentino de Antropología Forense, EAAF). So far at least five officers in Argentina were convicted partially due to Snow's work in the mass grave
Mass grave
A mass grave is a grave containing multiple number of human corpses, which may or may not be identified prior to burial. There is no strict definition of the minimum number of bodies required to constitute a mass grave, although the United Nations defines a mass grave as a burial site which...
s. The success of this mission led to the creation of Guatemalan Forensic Anthropology Team as well when survivors of the Guatemalan Civil War
Guatemalan Civil War
The Guatemalan Civil War ran from 1960-1996. The thirty-six-year civil war began as a grassroots, popular response to the rightist and military usurpation of civil government , and the President's disrespect for the human and civil rights of the majority of the population...
sought his help in 1991.
In 1991, Snow traveled to San Vicente, Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
, to carry out a search for the remains of the American outlaws Butch Cassidy
Butch Cassidy
Robert LeRoy Parker , better known as Butch Cassidy, was a notorious American train robber, bank robber, and leader of the Wild Bunch Gang in the American Old West...
and the Sundance Kid. However the exact location of the grave was unknown at least to within some yards, and the grave excavated transpired to contain the remains of a German miner named Gustav Zimmer. No remains were found whose DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
matched that of Parker and Longabaugh's families.
In 1997, Snow worked on mass graves found in the territory of the former Yugoslavia
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...
. Snow also participated in a re-enactment of an excavation of Butch Masters in Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
that aired on The Discovery Channel episode Science Detectives on Discover Magazine
Discover Magazine (TV series)
Discover Magazine is a 1992-2000 documentary television series that aired on the Disney Channel from 1992-1994 and then on The Science Channel from 1996-2000. The series is named after the magazine of the same name, Discover Magazine. The Disney Channel series was narrated by actor Joseph...
.
In 2004, Snow appeared on the Unsolved History
Unsolved History
Unsolved History is an American documentary television series that aired from 2002 to 2005. The program was produced by MorningStar Entertainment, Termite Art Productions, and others for the Discovery Channel. The series lasted over three seasons and had a total of 47 episodes, in which a team of...
documentary television series episode Hunting Nazis on The Discovery Channel.
As of 2005, Snow lives with his wife near Oklahoma City
Oklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
. He continues teaching at the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
, and he also does occasional lectures for Forensic Science organizations and law enforcement personnel.