“There seems to be no shortage of work for the criminalists at California DOJ forensic labs.  These professionals work to assist law enforcement in their pursuit of answers, which can provide closure for families, and if necessary, evidence for prosecutors.” 

– CSLEA President Alan Barcelona

SHASTA COUNTY – On February 11, 2026, the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office announced that human remains found nearly a year ago have been identified by the California Department of Justice Lab in Richmond, as Delores Sakamoto, 85, of Chico.

Sakamoto and her 64-year-old daughter were reported missing in Butte County.  In March of 2025, a vehicle associated with Sakamoto was discovered in a remote part of northeastern Shasta County. Search and Rescue teams located two sets of human remains nearby. Attempts to identify the remains through rapid DNA testing were unsuccessful and in August of 2025, the remains were sent to the California Department of Justice Laboratory in Richmond for further analysis.

In December of 2025, the Shasta County Coroner’s Office was notified that only one set of remains have been identified, belonging Sakamoto. Further testing is still in progress with Chico State Anthropology on the second set of remains.