MORROW BAY – On October 2, 2019, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office announced that DNA profiling conducted by the California Department of Justice led to the identification of skeletal remains discovered on June 20, 2019 near Highway 1 in Morrow Bay.

“This type of work conducted by DOJ criminalists allows family to be notified and can help investigators determine how the deceased ended up dead along the highway,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona.

The partial remains of Gregory Paul Schweickert, 70, a transient, were discovered by a Caltrans crew doing landscaping work. The crew found what appeared to be a human skull. With the assistance of the Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team, additional remains were recovered from the site. Investigators submitted the case to the California Department of Justice Lab for DNA profiling. The remains were also examined by a forensic anthropologist. Based on the length of time the remains were at the location, the cause of death is listed as undetermined. However, the sheriff’s office reports there is no evidence of a traumatic injury or significant disease.

It’s believed the last known point of contact with Schweickert was with the Morro Bay Police Department in 2016, which indicates the remains may have been at that location for up to three years. The remains were discovered a short distance away from a known homeless encampment. It’s unknown if the remains were associated with this camp. Next of kin have been notified.