PLACER COUNTY – On December 9, 2025, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office announced the identity of human remains discovered nearly four decades ago as those of Marjorie Linehan, who had been missing since October 1, 1982. She was 49 years old at the time of her disappearance.

On February 19, 1986, a portion of a human skull was located along Dry Creek near Booth Road in unincorporated Roseville. For years, the identity of the remains was unknown.

As part of the Placer County Cold Case Team’s ongoing efforts to re-examine unsolved cases using advancements in DNA technology, the remains were submitted to the California Department of Justice for testing. DNA analysis by the California Department of Justice confirmed the remains belong to Linehan.

She was originally reported missing in Sacramento County. The circumstances surrounding her disappearance remain unknown, and at the time, no foul play was suspected. Because only a portion of the skull was recovered, a cause of death cannot be determined.

According to her family, Linehan was an avid skier, a talented artist, and a mother. Though decades have passed, her memory lives on in the lives of those who knew and loved her.

“Thank you to the forensic professionals at California DOJ for their work in solving cold cases, be it identifying remains, or connecting the dots for investigators in order to identify suspects.  These DOJ criminalists are a vital part of criminal justice and public safety in California,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona.