Latest news with #TrinityCountySheriff'sOffice
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
She Vanished Decades Ago. Then Her Skeletal Remains Were Mailed to Police — and Now She's Been ID'd
Kay Medin, a school teacher, vanished from her rural home in Northern California in 1987 Her disappearance was deemed suspicious Medin's remains were found in rural Humboldt County and later on a beach near Trinidad HeadCalifornia authorities received the missing person report on August 3, 1987. Nickolas Medin reported that he had gone on a business trip and his 48-year-old wife Kay Josephine Medin was missing when he returned to their Hyampom home. The Trinity County Sheriff's Office searched the property and the surrounding woods and area but there were no signs of the elementary school teacher. Friends and family were interviewed but no significant clues emerged. 'She never showed up at school,' Humboldt County Sheriff's Office cold case investigator Mike Fridley, who is investigating the case, tells PEOPLE. 'They checked, they contacted her school, and they said that she seemed to be in good spirits and happy and she didn't have any medical issues or anything. So that's what obviously made everybody wonder what the heck happened. Her stuff is still at the house. Her car's there. She just disappeared.' Her disappearance from the rural Northern California community was deemed suspicious. Then, on November 25, 1987, the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office received a gruesome package in the mail. The box contained skeletal remains and an anonymous letter with a 'map leading to a location of more remains,' says Fridley. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. The map gave directions to a location near Ammon Ridge Road in Eastern Humboldt County. 'It's very straightforward and generic,' he says about the letter. There, detectives found more remains and were able to positively identify them to Kay using dental records. The remains were not buried. A death certificate was issued for Kay the following year in 1988. Who may have written the letter is still considered a mystery. 'It could go either way,' says Fridley. 'It could have just been somebody that was deer hunting or didn't want to get involved or could be the killer. Who knows.' The case took another twist on Feb. 16, 1993, when the Fortuna Police Department contacted the Humboldt County deputies with yet another gruesome discovery. This time, a partial skull was found on the beach near Trinidad Head, about 150 miles away from where Kay's earlier remains were discovered. However, a DNA sample was taken and entered in the California Missing Person DNA Database and the National Unidentified Person DNA index but there was no match. The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office received Community Project Funding from Congressman Jared Huffman's Office to clear the backlog of unidentified human remains cases and sent the partial skull found on the beach to the private forensic lab Othram Inc. for genetic genealogy testing. Othram later determined that the skull likely belonged to Kay in Sept. 2024. Investigators spoke to Kay's daughter and obtained a DNA sample from her. In early May 2025, the California Department of Justice confirmed the skull belonged to Kay. Now, says Fridley, he is hoping someone comes forward with information to help him solve the case. 'I'm just looking for somebody that might have information that could help with the case,' he says. 'That maybe somebody has some information that could get this case going again. And you know, a lot of times as time goes by people might come forward and talk to us that were reluctant to do that back then.' Nickolas Medin died in August 2018, he says. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office at 707-441-3024. Read the original article on People
Miami Herald
07-05-2025
- Miami Herald
Skull found on beach in 1993 identified as woman who vanished in 1987, CA cops say
National Skull found on beach in 1993 identified as woman who vanished in 1987, CA cops say Nickolas Medin, who died in 2018, reported his wife, Kay Medin, missing to Trinity County Sheriff's Office on Aug. 3, 1987, deputies said. Photo from Humboldt County Sheriff's Office A skull found on a California beach in 1993 has been identified as that of a woman who was reported missing in 1987, deputies said. Using DNA testing, the remains were identified as Kay Josephine Medin, the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office said in a May 6 news release. Wife reported missing Nickolas Medin, who died in 2018, reported his wife, Kay Medin, missing to the Trinity County Sheriff's Office on Aug. 3, 1987, deputies said. He told deputies that when he returned from a business trip, he learned his wife was gone, the sheriff's office said. Investigators searched the Medin property and spoke to friends, family and her doctor, who said 'she had no serious medical issues,' deputies said. At the time of her disappearance, Kay Medin was a teacher at Hyampom School, and her boss told investigators she appeared to have 'been in good spirits,' deputies said. Kay Medin's purse and other personal items were found inside the home, deputies said. 'The Trinity County Sheriff's Office listed her disappearance as suspicious,' deputies said. Mysterious package Months after Kay Medin was reported missing, deputies got an odd package in the mail on Nov. 25, 1987, the sheriff's office said. 'The package contained skeletal remains and an anonymous letter,' deputies said. The letter directed deputies to where they could find additional human remains at an area in eastern Humboldt County, the sheriff's office said. Deputies searched the area and found more remains, according to the sheriff's office. Using dental records, deputies said the remains were identified as Kay Medin in 1988. Though she was issued a death certificate, her missing persons case remained open, as not all her remains were found, according to deputies. Skull found Five years later, a man 'found a partial human skull on the beach near Trinidad Head' on Feb. 16, 1993, deputies said. The man turned the remains over to Fortuna police, according to deputies. After getting a DNA sample from the skull, investigators entered it into the California Missing Persons DNA Database and a national DNA database, deputies said. The DNA profile was searched 'against profiles from both missing persons and other human remains in the Combined DNA Index System,' deputies said. However, no match was ever found, deputies said. Genetic genealogy to ID Then, decades later, deputies said they partnered with Othram Inc. in hopes of identifying the remains using forensic genetic genealogy. Genetic genealogy uses DNA testing coupled with 'traditional genealogical methods' to create 'family history profiles,' according to the Library of Congress. With genealogical DNA testing, researchers can determine if and how people are biologically related. Othram's scientists built 'a comprehensive DNA profile for the unknown woman,' the company said in a news release. Using the profile, Othram then found new leads for investigators, the company said. In a report, Othram said the skull may belong to Kay Medin and noted a possible daughter, deputies said. Investigators found the daughter, who gave a DNA sample, deputies said. Testing showed the skull belonged to Kay Medin, according to deputies. Kay Medin's 'case is still open and considered a cold homicide,' deputies said. Anyone with information is asked to contact Investigator Mike Fridley at 707-441-3024. Humboldt County is about a 310-mile drive northwest from Sacramento. Daniella Segura McClatchy DC Go to X Email this person Daniella Segura is a national real-time reporter with McClatchy. Previously, she's worked as a multimedia journalist for weekly and daily newspapers in the Los Angeles area. Her work has been recognized by the California News Publishers Association. She is also an alumnus of the University of Southern California and UC Berkeley.
Miami Herald
07-05-2025
- General
- Miami Herald
Man swept away after falling in river as wife searches for him, CA rescuers say
National Man swept away after falling in river as wife searches for him, CA rescuers say The 57-year-old was stranded in Trinity River, rescuers said. Photo from Trinity County Search and Rescue A man was rescued after falling into a California river and getting swept downstream by the current, rescuers said. A woman called 911 at about 11 a.m. Sunday, May 4, and said her husband was missing after falling 'into the North Fork of the Trinity River, in the Coffee Creek area of Trinity County,' Trinity County Search and Rescue said in a May 5 Facebook post. With the swift current, the wife said her 57-year-old husband became stranded in the river, rescuers said. The swift river current carried the man downstream, rescuers said. Photo from Trinity County Search and Rescue After he 'was swept downstream,' the wife was unable to find him, rescuers said. Rescuers from multiple agencies, including the Trinity Center Fire Department and Trinity County Sheriff's Office, responded to search for the man. Multiple agencies responded to reach for the missing man, rescuers said Photo from Trinity County Search and Rescue As rescuers searched the area, they found the man on an island 'in the middle of the river,' more than a mile from where he fell, according to the nonprofit. The man could not reach the riverbank on his own, so rescuers advised him to stay in place, the nonprofit said. Rescuers said they 'shot a line across the river,' and the man secured it 'around a tree on the island' to be 'used later in the rescue.' Two rescuers swam to the man stranded on the island, a nonprofit said. Photo from Trinity County Search and Rescue Rescuers said they then pulled a line across the river 'with an inflatable kayak and other rescue gear for the stranded man.' After placing the man in the kayak, rescuers took him to shore with a rescue swimmer guiding him in the water, the nonprofit said. The man was placed in a kayak and brought to shore, rescuers said. Photo from Trinity County Search and Rescue First responders medically assessed the man, who was 'very cold, but not injured,' rescuers said. He was then 'reunited with his family,' rescuers said. 'So glad this turned out OK,' Trinity Center Volunteer Fire Department said in a Facebook post. 'BUT it's a warning that the Trinity River is running fast and cold!' Coffee Creek is about a 230-mile drive north from Sacramento. Daniella Segura McClatchy DC Go to X Email this person Daniella Segura is a national real-time reporter with McClatchy. Previously, she's worked as a multimedia journalist for weekly and daily newspapers in the Los Angeles area. Her work has been recognized by the California News Publishers Association. She is also an alumnus of the University of Southern California and UC Berkeley.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Yahoo
Infant feared dead after family vehicle veers off cliff in Northern California
Trinity County authorities continued search and rescue operations Friday for the body of an infant who was swept away from his father's arms after their four-door sedan veered off the highway and into the Trinity River. The solo-car accident occurred before 2 a.m. Thursday along State Route 299, two miles east from the Big Flat campground, according to Keith Krick, a spokesman for the California Highway Patrol. He said a young couple from Shasta Lake were traveling in a 2004 Lexus ES 330 with their 9-month-old infant in the backseat when the vehicle suddenly veered off the road, down an embankment and into the fast-moving river. Krick said it's unknown how fast the driver, a 21-year-old woman, was going or what caused her to lose control of the vehicle. He said drugs and alcohol were not a factor in the crash. He said the woman and her partner, a 19-year-old man, grabbed their infant son from the sinking vehicle and were trying to escape when the current swept the young boy from his father's arms. 'So at some point, the child was handed from one person to the other and that's the last time either party remembers seeing the child,' Krick said. Read more: California's high-speed rail leaders sound alarm over project's financial future He said the parents suffered minor to moderate injuries. Krick said the father was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. CHP declined to name the parents. He said the couple and the submerged vehicle were discovered by a California Highway Patrol helicopter but efforts to locate the child were not successful. Search and rescue teams with the Trinity County Sheriff's Office continued the search Friday but as of 12 p.m. they had not been able to locate the young child. The river — a popular spot for white water rafting around this time of the year — is fast-moving and dangerous. At the time of the crash and location, the water was flowing at 3,480 cubic feet per second, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, which tracks the river's flow. Krick said the investigation into the crash is ongoing. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
02-05-2025
- Los Angeles Times
Infant feared dead after family vehicle veers off cliff in Northern California
Trinity County authorities continued search and rescue operations Friday for the body of an infant who was swept away from his father's arms after their four-door sedan veered off the highway and into the Trinity River. The solo-car accident occurred before 2 a.m. Thursday along State Route 299, two miles east from the Big Flat campground, according to Keith Krick, a spokesman for the California Highway Patrol. He said a young couple from Shasta Lake were traveling in a 2004 Lexus ES 330 with their 9-month-old infant in the backseat when the vehicle suddenly veered off the road, down an embankment and into the fast-moving river. Krick said it's unknown how fast the driver, a 21-year-old woman, was going or what caused her to lose control of the vehicle. He said drugs and alcohol were not a factor in the crash. He said the woman and her partner, a 19-year-old man, grabbed their infant son from the sinking vehicle and were trying to escape when the current swept the young boy from his father's arms. 'So at some point, the child was handed from one person to the other and that's the last time either party remembers seeing the child,' Krick said. He said the parents suffered minor to moderate injuries. Krick said the father was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. CHP declined to name the parents. He said the couple and the submerged vehicle were discovered by a California Highway Patrol helicopter but efforts to locate the child were not successful. Search and rescue teams with the Trinity County Sheriff's Office continued the search Friday but as of 12 p.m. they had not been able to locate the young child. The river — a popular spot for white water rafting around this time of the year — is fast-moving and dangerous. At the time of the crash and location, the water was flowing at 3,480 cubic feet per second, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, which tracks the river's flow. Krick said the investigation into the crash is ongoing.
