“It is just a matter of time before these old cases are solved and removed from cold case binders in the offices of missing persons and homicide detectives. We applaud the California Department of Justice criminalists and their colleagues in forensic science who are working to solve cases involving unknown identities.”
CSLEA President Alan Barcelona
SONOMA COUNTY – On April 2, 2025, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office announced the identities of two bodies discovered in separate incidents in 1998.
In February 1998, skeletal remains were discovered near Hearn Avenue and US 101 in Santa Rosa. Forensic analysis identified the remains as those of a white male, approximately 50 years old. However, the man’s identity remained unknown for more than 20 years.
In 2022, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office partnered with the California Department of Justice and turned to advanced DNA technology with Othram. Using this cutting-edge approach, a detailed genetic profile was created, identifying Robert Michael Ream, born in February 1954. Ream, who was 44 at the time of his death, had passed away just three days after his birthday.
In January 1998, the remains of an unknown woman were discovered floating in the Pacific Ocean, several miles off the Point Reyes Peninsula. The body had been in the water for an unknown period and was severely decomposed, making identification difficult. Despite extensive efforts, the woman’s body remained unidentified and was referred to as Sonoma County Jane Doe.
In 2023, the Sheriff’s Office partnered again with the California Department of Justice and Othram to leverage advanced forensic DNA analysis to resolve the case. Forensic evidence was submitted to Othram, where Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing was utilized to construct a comprehensive DNA profile suitable for genetic genealogy. The DOJ DNA Laboratory criminalists achieved a pivotal breakthrough after the individual’s family submitted a DNA sample through the Richmond Police Department’s Missing Persons protocol. We extend our appreciation to the Sonoma County Sheriff’s CSI Investigators, who confirmed the identification through a meticulous fingerprint comparison. This effort ultimately led to identifying the woman as Deborah Mitchell Cordier, born in July 1952.
