CA TRABUCO CANYON JOHN DOE: M, 14-25, found in wilderness area in Trabuco Canyon, CA - 13 Dec 1996

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

On December 13, 1996 human skeletal remains were discovered in a creek bed in a remote wilderness area off Trabuco Creek Road northeast of O’Neill Regional Park in Trabuco Canyon, Orange County, California. Due to the state of decomposition forensic investigators estimate the deceased died 6-18 months prior. A forensic anthropologist evaluation indicated the remains to be that of young Caucasian or Hispanic man between 15 and 19 years old with a small build of 5’6” tall and 145 pounds. He had red to sandy brown hair. There were no signs on the skeleton of foul play, so the cause and manner of death were officially classified as undetermined.

DNA Doe Project Status: Research in Progress

Trabuco Canyon John Doe 1996 | DNA Doe Project

dnadoeproject.org

On December 13, 1996, skeletal remains of an unidentified male were located in a wilderness area east of Trabuco Creek Road in an unincorporated area of Trabuco Canyon in Orange County, California. It is estimated the remains had been there up to two years. The John Doe is believed to be Caucasian or Hispanic and between 14 and 25 years of age. He may have had reddish or sandy-brown hair. He stood between 5'2" and 5'8" and had a medium build. The John Doe's teeth were in poor condition. The featured reconstruction is an artist's rendering of what the John Doe may have looked like with two possible hairstyles. Anyone with information should contact the Orange County Coroner Division, reference case number 96-07901-MU.

Have you seen this child? John Trabuco Canyon Doe 1996

Missing From: Trabuco Canyon, CA. Missing Date: December 13, 1996. .

www.missingkids.org

On 12/13/96 #JohnDoe was discovered in a creek bed in a remote wilderness area off Trabuco Creek Road in Orange County, #CALIFORNIA

"Initial genealogical DNA examinations confirmed he was Hispanic or Native American in origin and not primarily Caucasian as initially suspected," a spokesperson said. Additionally it is believed he is likely from a remote/rural area in Latin...

www.crimewatchers.net

*CLICK THE REPORT BUTTON IF YOU'D LIKE THIS CASE MOVED TO THE GENERAL DISCUSSION AREA TO BE OPENED FOR COMMENTING.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

Demographics
Sex: Male
Race / Ethnicity: Uncertain
Estimated Age Group: Adult
Estimated Age Range (Years): 14-25
Estimated Year of Death: 1995-1996
Height: 5' 6"(66 inches) , Estimated
Weight: 145 lbs, Estimated

Circumstances
Type: Unidentified Deceased
Date Body Found: December 13, 1996
Location Found Map
Location: Trabuco Canyon, California
County: Orange County
Circumstances of Recovery: Bones/human male, found Trabuco Canyon/Trabuco Creek Road Orange County Sheriff-Coroner website http://ocsd.org/divisions/prof/coroner/ud/john/9607901mu
Details of Recovery
Condition of Remains: Not recognizable - Partial skeletal parts only

Clothing and Accessories
Accessories: Elastic/cloth band Electrical wiring Knotted cloth ligature - Near the Body

Clothing: XL Large white men's T-shirt Torn and faded green bikini underpants White shoe insole - Near the Body

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Doe Network: International Center For Missing and Unidentified Persons

Doe Network is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to bringing awareness to missing persons and unidentified persons throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Australia.

www.doenetwork.org

Date of Discovery: December 13, 1996
Location of Discovery: Trabuco Canyon, Orange County, California
Estimated Date of Death: Up to 2 years prior
State of Remains: Skeletal
Cause of Death: Undetermined

Physical Description
Estimated Age: 14-25 years old
Race: White and/or Hispanic
Sex: Male
Height: 5'2" to 5'8"
Weight: 130 to 160 lbs.
Hair Color: Red or sandy-brown.
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Unknown.

Identifiers
Dentals: Available. He had poor dental care and some missing teeth. "O" restoration #19, abscess and caries #14, caries #3). Unerupted wisdom teeth, #30 missing antemortem. #4 retained deciduous molar distal buccal root tip.
Fingerprints: Not available.
DNA: Available.

Clothing & Personal Items
Clothing: Men's tee shirt, size XL; torn/faded green bikini underwear; insole of white shoe.
Jewelry: Unknown.
Additional Personal Items: Elastic cloth band, electrical wiring and knotted cloth ligature.

Circumstances of Discovery
The decedent's partial skeletal remains were located in a remote wilderness area frequented by transients and illegal aliens in Trabuco Canyon, off Trabuco Creek Road. The area is northeast of O'Neill Regional Park, in the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains.

His sex remained unconfirmed until a 2003, when a DNA profile was developed.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

'John Doe' Search Continues In Trabuco Canyon Cold Case: OCSD

The remains of a boy thought to have gone missing in 1995 or 1996 was found near Trabuco Canyon. Can you help identify this 'John Doe?'

patch.com

'John Doe' Search Continues In Trabuco Canyon Cold Case: OCSD​

Almost 24 years ago, searchers found the remains of a young boy in a remote area near Trabuco Canyon.

It was Dec. 13, 1996 when Coroner Division Investigators and OCSD Homicide Investigators arrived to investigate the human remains discovered in a wilderness area east of Trabuco Creek Road in the unincorporated area of Trabuco Canyon.


Over the years, investigators and armchair sleuths have worked to learn his identity.

Fast forward to 2020, when the Orange County Sheriff's Department contracted with the DNA Doe Project in an attempt to identify the young man.

"Initial genealogical DNA examinations confirmed he was Hispanic or Native American in origin and not primarily Caucasian as initially suspected," a spokesperson for the department said.

Additionally, based on further genetic testing, it is believed he is likely from a remote/rural area in Latin America due to the very low threshold of genetic matches, the department says.

The threshold of potential matches is so low that familial DNA analysis "is almost impossible to pursue due to an underrepresentation of that population demographic in genealogical databases," they said.

Back in 2018, the Coroner Division partnered with NCMEC to generate leads that might deliver an identification. They created a computed tomography (CT) scan of the skull and submitted that to NCMEC. They used the latest reconstruction techniques to develop renderings of what John Doe's likeness. Adding the new information about his likely Latin heritage, NCMEC modified its initial sketch from 2019 to produce an original likeness that reflects the suspected Latin American descent of John Doe.

"Over the years, there have been occasional leads, yet he has not gotten his name back," said Kelly Keyes, Supervising Deputy Coroner. "As with all of our unidentified cases, which date back to the 1950s and includes nearly 100 cases, we continue to review these cases with the hope that John Doe will finally get a name."

"Sometimes seeing a picture can spark a memory, and that could lead to information," Keyes said. "We're looking to match that face to a name so we can bring closure to his family."

 

[Windstorm]

Trabuco Canyon John Doe 1996 was added to Gedmatch by the DNA Doe Project. As of February 22, 2021, he had just over 1,200 DNA matches. His highest match was 76.5 cM - this is not a substantial match. He is on the Google Drive spreadsheet at:

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

New image from Carl.

 

[Summer_Breeze]

OC authorities seek help to ID person whose remains were found in 1996

Advances in technology led Orange County authorities to rerelease an updated computer tomography-based photo in hopes of identifying human remains found in 1996

www.cbsnews.com

BY KCAL-NEWS STAFF
OCTOBER 3, 2023 / 11:24 AM / KCAL NEWS

Advances in technology have led the Orange County Sheriff's Department to renew efforts to identify the remains of a young man found in Trabuco Canyon nearly 27 years ago.

Homicide investigators first responded to a wilderness area east of Trabuco Creek Road in the unincorporated of Trabuco Canyon area on Dec. 13, 1996, for a report of the discovery of human remains.

At the time, it was estimated the remains may have already been there for up to two years.

Based on initial scientific tests from 1996, it was believed the remains were those of a 15- to 19-year-old male, between 5 feet, 2 inches tall to 5 feet, and 8 inches tall with a medium build.

A study of the teeth showed they were in poor condition, and the findings were submitted to a Department of Justice database, with the name John Doe.

The Orange County Coroner Division partnered with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in 2020 to generate leads for identity.

A computed tomography scan of the skull was created in 2020 and submitted to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which used the latest reconstruction techniques to develop renderings of what John Doe may have looked like.

Further genetic testing led authorities to believe the unidentified male is likely from a remote, rural area in Latin America.

If you have any information, please call (714) 647-7400 or email coroner@OCSheriff.gov, reference case number 96-07901-MU.