Latest news with #BrianEdwardJones
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man, 20, Vanished After Leaving for Work 40 Years Ago. His Remains Were Just Identified
The remains of a California man who disappeared four decades ago have been identified Family last saw Jones as he left for work in December 1984, but the sheriff's office said he was last seen in January 1985 His remains were found at Menlo Park in April 1985, but weren't identified for 40 yearsRemains found in a California park four decades ago have finally been identified as a missing man who disappeared after leaving for work. Brian Edward Jones was 20 years old when he was last seen on Jan. 7, 1985, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office. Family said they last saw him in December 1984 as he left for work, FOX affiliate KTVU reported. Authorities said Jones 'was very despondent' following a break-up with his girlfriend, and 'made statements that he was going to jump off of a bridge.' Four months later, partial remains were found in Menlo Park, according to KTVU and ABC affiliate KGO-TV. The remains were exhumed in October 2023, KTVU and Patch reported. The DNA was reportedly submitted to the Combined DNA Index System, an FBI-maintained database, and later showed a possible biological relationship between the remains found in Menlo Park and a sample submitted as part of a 2016 missing person report. In April 2025, the San Mateo County Coroner's Office learned there was a strong familial relationship between the aforementioned samples. After additional testing, the agency announced on Friday, May 23, that the remains found in Menlo Park belonged to Jones. It remains unclear how he died. Coroner Robert Foucrault applauded his staff for the hard work they did on the case, according to the San Mateo Daily Journal. 'For my staff that worked on it, it's a job well done because they've put closure on a case for someone's loved one that's been missing for a long time,' he said. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The coroner's office also said it is becoming easier to identify previously unidentified remains and bring 'relief' to families as technology improves. 'Records back then weren't well documented so it takes a lot of work for my staff to do a lot of research and backtracking,' Foucrault said. The coroner's and sheriff's offices did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's requests for comment. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 24/7. Read the original article on People
Miami Herald
26-05-2025
- Miami Herald
Remains found in 1985 ID'd as man last seen leaving for work, CA officials say
Three decades after human remains were found in a rural California area, they've been identified as those of a missing man, coroner officials say. With the help of DNA testing, the remains were identified as Brian Edward Jones, who was 20 when he was reported missing out of San Jose, the San Mateo County Coroner's Office said in a May 22 news release. His partial human remains 'were found in an undeveloped area of Menlo Park' on April 15, 1985, officials said. The man's case went cold, and his identity remained a mystery. Then, decades later, the coroner's office said they reopened the case in hopes of using DNA testing to identify the remains. 'Records back (in 1985) weren't well documented so it takes a lot of work for my staff to do a lot of research and backtracking,' Coroner Robert Foucrault told the San Mateo Daily Journal. In this case, the team worked to locate where the remains were buried to collect a DNA sample. Officials said they worked with a Colma cemetery and the sheriff's office to have the man's remains exhumed. The coroner's office said they then sent a DNA sample to the California Department of Justice, which created a DNA profile for the unknown man that was submitted to the Combined DNA Index System, officials said. CODIS is 'a computer software program that operates local, state, and national databases of DNA profiles from convicted offenders, unsolved crime scene evidence, and missing persons,' according to federal prosecutors. A potential match was found in CODIS from a DNA sample submitted in 2016 for a missing persons case, officials said. While the initial testing showed 'moderate support' that the unknown man was related to the person, additional testing 'provided strong evidence' that the two were related, officials said. With 'this DNA comparison,' officials said they identified the remains as Jones. Family last saw Jones alive as he left for work in December 1984, officials said. The coroner's office said they notified Jones' family of his identification May 20. 'I think for the families, it's relief,' Foucrault told the San Mateo Daily Journal. 'For my staff that worked on it, it's a job well done because they've put closure on a case for someone's loved one that's been missing for a long time.' Menlo Park is about a 30-mile drive southeast from San Francisco.
