“The technology available today is working in favor of cold case detectives and solving the mysteries surrounding identities and possible homicide suspects.  We applaud the work of California DOJ criminalists and their partners in DNA technology and genealogy for assisting.”

– CSLEA President Alan Barcelona

HUMBOLDT COUNTY – On May 9, 2024, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office announced the identity of human remains discovered in 2006 as Freddie Earl Long, who was born in April of 1943.  Long’s identity was made possible through DNA technology.

On October 9, 2006, a skull was located on timber company property in the Fieldbrook area.  In searching the area, deputies and detectives located additional skeletal remains, clothing, and various personal items. The Humboldt County Coroner’s Office and sheriff’s detectives conducted the investigation and concluded that there was no physical evidence that indicated foul play. The coroner’s office brought in a team of experts to provide a forensic anthropological analysis on the remains. The experts from UC Santa Cruz conducted a thorough examination, however, no additional evidence was located, and no identifying features could determine the identity of the remains.  DNA and dental information were submitted to the California Department of Justice and the information was entered into the Missing and Unidentified Persons System (MUPS), still no identification was ever made.

In 2022, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office partnered with Othram Inc., a company specializing in forensic genetic genealogy to submit DNA for forensic genome sequencing. With the new DNA profile, HCSO conducted a genealogy investigation and determined that the remains belonged to Freddie Long. The closest living relative to Long was contacted and provided a DNA sample for confirmation. The relative also confirmed that Long had gone missing around 1993, however, he had never been reported missing to authorities.  With this updated information, the personal effects found with the body and the anthropological analysis also confirmed that the remains were Freddie Long.

Freddie Long, age 50 at the time of his disappearance, was last known to be living in the area of Big Bar.  Long may have gone by the alias “Cowboy Fred.” The investigation into his death continues.