Ned Kelly, Australian Outlaw, Remains Identified 130 Years After Death

While reading the news story about Ned Kelly an Australian outlaw whose remains have been identified more than 130 years after his death, the popular television "Bones" started playing in my head. I could see the Jeffersonian crew doing the job the job as described in the news story.

In one season, "Bones" did do something similar when they were locked down to try to identify John F. Kennedy's body. The Victorian Institute forensics team probably was not locked down like the Jeffersonian team. It is possible many of the same techniques used on "Bones" was used in Kelly's identification.

The similarities between the JFK episode of "Bones" and Ned Kelly.

There are similarities between the JFK body identification on the show, and the story behind Ned Kelly and his forensic identification.

Exhumations. JFK's body was exhumed on "Bones." Kelly's body was exhumed twice; once in 1929 and again in 2009. Booth didn't want to believe the government would lie. He did not like his family's association with Oswald.

DNA Testing. DNA testing was used to identity JKF's body on "Bones." Testing found the body wasn't that of Kennedy on the show. DNA testing determined the skull did not belong to the skeleton of Kelly. The DNA concluded the skeleton belongs to Ned Kelly.

Bullet Holes. Kennedy's skull was highly damaged during his assassination. It was a bullet that ended his life. In the case of Kelly, it was a bullet that brought him down to be arrested.

Hero Tales. Kennedy was a well respected man and President of the United States, Ned Kelly was on the other side of the law. Both men have their own folk and hero tales people remember to this day.

Movies, television, and books.

John F. Kennedy and Ned Kelly have had movies made about their lives. They have been written about in books recounting their lives from childhood through the day they died. Both men have been mentioned in various television shows throughout the years.

"Ned Kelly." The movie was made in 1970 and starred Mick Jagger. It was remade in 2003 and starred Heath Ledger.

Books about Ned Kelly. Thirty-six books have been written about this Australian outlaw.

John F. Kennedy movies. Thirty seven movies have either been about John F. Kennedy or has had him mentioned in them. There has been at least 13 articles written solely about him. He has had 23 covers of magazines like "Time," "Life," and "Vanity Fair."