Skull found in Illinois home identified as teen who died 150 years ago

A skull found in the walls of one Illinois house finally identified more than forty years ago, in 1978.

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

The Indiana teen, identified as Esther Granger, 17, died more than 150 years ago, according to the Kane County The coroner’s office.

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

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

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

Kane County Coroner Rob Russell is pictured with an artist’s rendering of Esther Granger’s likeness as he speaks during a press conference on Thursday, October 24, 2024 in St. Charles, III. Researchers have determined that a skull discovered in the wall of an Illinois home in 1978 was that of 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 exactly, but with data and good reason, we have come to a common sense theory: we believe Esther was the victim of grave robbing,” Russell said.

“Grave robbing was quite common at that time because it was quite profitable. The grave robbers earned the equivalent of three to four months’ income for the average person working 60 hours a week,” he added.

Officials built one pedigree and were able to find Granger’s great-grandson, Wayne Svilar, 69, a retired sergeant from Portland, Oregon, through a DNA sample, illustrating a picture of her possible appearance.

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A 3D-printed reproduction of a skull found in a wall of a house renovated in 1978 is on display during a press conference on Thursday, October 24, 2024 in St. Charles, Illinois. Researchers have determined that a skull discovered in the The wall of an Illinois home in 1978 was that of an Indiana teenager who died more than 150 years ago, authorities announced Thursday. (Brian Hill via ASSOCIATED PRESS)

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Svilar said at the news conference that he was initially wary of the news.

“To be completely honest, we didn’t believe a word of it,” he said at the press 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 traveled to the internment where he delivered a eulogy. Granger was buried in West Batavia Cemetery, where she has an engraved stone tower.