Mysterious human skull found on NorCal beach identified
(KRON) — A forensic genetic genealogy team recently uncovered a mystery behind a partial human skull found on a beach in Northern California 32 years ago.
The woman's skull was spotted near Trinidad Head, a rocky structure in Trinidad Harbor, in 1993. At the time, a traditional DNA profile was developed and entered into the National Unidentified Person DNA Index. No match was made.
In 2024, the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office submitted evidence to Othram's laboratory in Texas hoping that advanced DNA testing could identify the woman. Othram scientists developed a DNA extract from the skeletal evidence and used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing to build a new DNA profile for the unknown woman.
Several months later, Othram provided HCSO with new leads. 'Investigators used this report to launch a follow-up investigation and locate a potential relative. The California Department of Justice compared the relative's DNA profile to the DNA profile developed from the skull, which confirmed that the skull belonged to Kay Josephine Medin,' DNASolves.com wrote.
Kay Medin also went by the name Kay Adams. She was reported missing in August of 1987 after she vanished from her home in Trinity County.
Medin worked as a school teacher in Hyampom, and her boss said she was in good spirits the last time he saw her.
Trinidad Head beach (Getty Images / File)
The Trinity County Sheriff's Office listed Kay's disappearance as suspicious.
'In November of 1987, the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office received a package in the US mail. The package contained skeletal remains and an anonymous letter. The letter gave directions leading to more human remains. The directions lead to a location near Ammon Ridge Road in Humboldt County. Detectives responded to the location given in the letter and discovered additional human remains, about 45 miles west of her home. These remains were later identified as belonging to Kay Medin through a comparison of dental records,' DNASolves.com wrote.
Fingerprint on cigarette pack leads to break in San Jose cold case homicide
A death certificate was issued for Kay Medin in 1988 while her skull was still missing. 'It is unclear how the majority of her remains were found 45 miles from her home or how her skull was found almost 100 miles away,' DNASolves.com wrote.
Today, her death remains an unsolved homicide cold case.
Kristen Mittelman, chief development officer for Othram labs, said, 'We're proud to be able to help investigators give these victims their names back, and hopefully move the investigation forward toward resolution. That's the most important thing.'
Anyone with information that could help solve this cold case is encouraged to call the Humboldt Sheriff's Office.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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