Description:
On March 7, 1995, two people hiking through the Petrified Forest in Sonoma County, California came across the skeletal remains of a male in a ravine. He was found lying atop the soil wearing blue overalls; the overalls had an embroidered patch with the lettering “United States Coast Guard 17th District”. A subsequent search also revealed Texas Steer boots and a Vega .45 pistol at the scene.
Investigators looked into both the patch and the pistol, but neither of them led to the identity of the unidentified male. Neither his race nor his age could be determined either, though it was estimated that he had died 2-5 years before being discovered.
NamUs ID:
N/A
Date Body Found:
March 7, 1995
Race:
Undetermined
Sex:
Male
Estimated Age:
Uncertain
Estimated PMI:
2-5 years
Agency of Jurisdiction:
Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office
Detective Brandon Mitchell
707-565-2337
brandon.mitchell@sonomacounty.gov
Status:
Pending
Image Credit:
This case graphic incorporates “Volcanic tuff (Sonoma Volcanics, Upper Pliocene, 3.2-3.4 Ma; Calistoga Petrified Forest, Calistoga, California, USA) 27” by James St. John, CC BY 2.0.
Last Updated: February 18, 2026
