Pittsburgh Homicide Victim in 1992 Cold Case Identified After DNA "Breakthrough"

Allegheny County officials close the county's longest unknown decedent cold case using DNA analysis.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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More than three decades after a body was pulled from one of Pittsburgh's rivers, the victim has been identified as Allan Keener. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office used a $100,000 state grant and DNA analysis from the company Othram to finally identify Keener, whose body was found in 1992 with blunt force trauma to the head, though he ultimately drowned. A man named Arthur Wiley was convicted of third-degree murder in the case, but Keener's identity remained unknown until now.

Why it matters

This case highlights the importance of new DNA technologies in helping to solve long-standing cold cases and provide closure for victims' families. It also underscores the challenges law enforcement can face in identifying unknown victims, even in homicide cases where a perpetrator has been convicted.

The details

Keener's body was found in 1992 in the water between the 9th and 6th street bridges after a witness called 911 to report an assault. The autopsy showed blunt force trauma to the head, though Keener ultimately drowned. Pittsburgh police arrested Arthur Wiley, who was tried and convicted of third-degree murder in 1993. While Wiley has since served his sentence, his victim's identity remained unknown, as Keener had no known address and was believed to be traveling around the Pittsburgh area.

  • Keener's body was found in 1992.
  • Wiley was convicted of third-degree murder in 1993.

The players

Allan Keener

The victim whose identity was unknown for over 30 years until DNA analysis helped identify him as the victim in a 1992 Pittsburgh homicide case.

Arthur Wiley

The man who was convicted of third-degree murder in the 1992 homicide case, though the victim's identity remained unknown until now.

Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office

The office that used a $100,000 state grant and DNA analysis from Othram to finally identify Allan Keener as the victim in the 1992 cold case.

Othram

The company that built a comprehensive DNA profile for the Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office, allowing them to identify Allan Keener as the victim.

Jason Lando

The Pittsburgh Police Chief who called the identification of Allan Keener a "breakthrough" and said it will help provide answers and closure for the victim's family.

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What they’re saying

“We never give up on our cases. I am thrilled that after decades of looking into leads and trying new technologies, we are able to finally identify Mr. Keener as the decedent from the 1992 homicide. This brings closure to a family that never knew what happened to their loved one.”

— Mandy Tinkey, Laboratory Director, Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office (Press Release)

“By utilizing new technologies such as these, our hope is to continue to give the families of crime victims the much-needed answers they have waited for and deserve.”

— Jason Lando, Pittsburgh Police Chief (News Release)

The takeaway

This case highlights the power of new DNA technologies in helping to solve long-standing cold cases and provide closure for victims' families, even decades after a crime has been committed. It also underscores the challenges law enforcement can face in identifying unknown victims, and the importance of never giving up on unsolved cases.