Description
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 a young Caucasian or Hispanic man between 15 and 19 years old with a small build of 5’6” tall and 145 pounds. More recent DNA analysis indicates the young man to be Hispanic, likely with some indigenous ancestry. There were no signs on the skeleton of foul play, so the cause and manner of death were officially classified as undetermined.
NamUs ID: UP7686
Date Body Found: December 13, 1996
Race: Hispanic/Latino
Gender: Male
Estimated Age: Adult – 15-19
Estimated PMI: 6-18 months
Location: Trabuco Canyon, CA
Agency of Jurisdiction
Orange County Sheriff’s Department Coroner Division
Bob Taft and Lauren Felix
714-245-8349 or 714-393-2352
[email protected] or [email protected]
Links to More Information
https://www.audacy.com/knxnews/news/local/o-c-authorities-seek-help-identifying-remains-found-in-1996
https://ocsheriff.gov/news/oc-sheriff-coroner-seeking-assistance-help-id-john-doe
https://www.namus.gov/UnidentifiedPersons/Case#/7686/details
http://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMU/1184202/1/screen
http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/190umca.html
Status: Research in Progress
Image Credit: Carl Koppelman
Last Updated: December 15, 2023
