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  • (soft, mysterious music)

  • - I believe that the word cold cases is wrong,

  • because it could be perhaps something that's

  • in a drawer somewhere in an office,

  • but their families hasn't forgotten them.

  • They are still looking for them,

  • and I just wanna do my best to help.

  • - [Narrator] When authorities have failed

  • to identify the remains of a body,

  • there is very little hope of closure

  • for these John and Jane Does.

  • But every year, an enterprising studio of student artists

  • use their knowledge of the human form

  • to try and breathe life into these cold cases.

  • - Here, we're doing a forensic reconstruction of a real case,

  • trying to get it as close as he used to look like

  • when he was alive, so we can identify him.

  • (plucked string music)

  • We are given a 3-D print, not the real skull.

  • We use it as a framework, so we can reconstruct

  • the anatomy of the individual.

  • First, we start adding the muscles

  • on the framework given by the bone,

  • and then we try to complete those things

  • that are not so clear, like the ear or the mouth.

  • Right now, I'm working on a Caucasian white man,

  • between 40 to 60 years old.

  • There are indications that he lost his teeth

  • when he was alive, and his bones are telling me all that.

  • - [Narrator] These lifelike models are provided

  • to authorities, often reinvigorating investigations

  • and bringing much-needed closure to loved ones.

  • - After my first experience last year,

  • I was lucky enough that the person was identified,

  • and I got this beautiful letter from the family members,

  • saying "Thank you."

  • When we see this process, it feels almost like

  • you're resuscitating someone.

  • But I know that beyond that,

  • what you're resuscitating is the life

  • of those families that are looking for this person.

(soft, mysterious music)

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