John Doe identified 31 years after falling death from downtown library wall

NASHVILLE Tenn. (WKRN) — The identity of a man who died after falling from a wall at the downtown Nashville library has been revealed three decades later.

The Metro Nashville Police Department announced they have finally identified a John Doe who died in August of 1993.

He has since been identified at Donald Elden Verhalen, of Wisconsin.

According to police, Verhalen died Aug. 7, 1993, when he fell off a high wall at the Church Street downtown library. He sustained a serious head injury and later died at the hospital.

At the time of his death, he had no identification on him and was homeless, police said.

But genealogical research and DNA testing done by the Othram Lab in Texas confirmed Verhalen’s identity. Research performed on a bone sample led to the discovery. He was 56 at the time of his death.

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According to police, Verhalen lost contact with his family years prior to his death. His death was ruled accidental by the Medical Examiner’s Office.

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