A 43-year mystery has been solved and a family is finally getting closure thanks to a partnership between the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office, the California Department of Justice and Othram Inc.

On Feb. 11, 1980, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of possible human remains located in the brush off Stagecoach ROAd, near Trinidad. A HCSO detective responded and began an investigation.

A female body, described as 20 to 30 years old, with reddish-brown hair, 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing 170 pounds, was located in a sleeping bag.

During the investigation the California Department of Justice was able to recover a latent fingerprint which was run through the Automated Latent Print System with no reported matches.

A forensic dental examination was completed by a local dentist. An autopsy was completed, and the cause of death was listed as an overdose.

A DNA sample was obtained and entered into both the California Missing Persons DNA Database and the National Unidentified Persons DNA Index (#UP55390).

The DNA profile was routinely searched against profiles from both missing persons and other human remains in the Combined Index System, or CODIS. No profile matches were ever made.

Missing persons cases stay open until solved. In December of 2022 the HCSO and the California DOJ partnered with Othram Inc, a forensic genealogy lab, to determine if advanced forensic DNA testing could help establish an identity for the unidentified woman or a close relative.

The DOJ sent Othram a DNA extract from the unknown woman’s remains. Othram scientists used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the woman.

Once the profile was built, Othram’s in-house genealogy team used forensic genetic genealogy to produce investigative leads.

In August of 2023, the HCSO received the Othram report indicating the DNA profile may be that of Denise Gail Cruz, born in 1953.

The report included several genetic relatives, including a possible brother named Mark from Colorado.

HCSO investigators were able to contact Mark, who confirmed he had a sister named Denise Gail Cruz.

A DNA sample was obtained from Mark and sent to the DOJ for comparison to the unknown female. The DOJ was able to confirm that Mark and Denise were genetic relatives.

For unknown reasons Denise Cruz stopped communicating with family members. Their last contact with her was in September of 1979.

Cruz had been living a transient lifestyle and was suffering from untreated mental health issues. As the family was not sure whether the loss of contact was intentional, she was never reported as missing.

HCSO thanks the California Department of Justice DNA lab and Othram for their outstanding work and assistance in solving this case and providing the Cruz family with some closure for their missing loved one.

The HCSO is continuing its partnership with the DOJ and Othram and is reviewing several of our missing persons investigations for the use of this latest DNA technology.

Anyone with information regarding Denise Cruz and her last known activities or whereabouts prior to her death, or information that may assist in the investigation of any open missing persons cases, is asked to contact HCSO Cold Case Investigator Mike Fridley at 707-441-3024.