Long Beach Cold Case Murder Victim Identified After 44 Years

LONG BEACH, CA — After 44 years Long Beach Detectives discovered the identity of a teenage "John Doe" murder victim who was discovered dead in the area of Belmont Shore in 1978, the department announced Wednesday.

The victim, 15-year-old Kenneth Nevada Williams, ran away from his home on La Puente in 1978 and was never seen again, only to be found on June 3 of that year by Long Beach Police who couldn't uncover his identity. The case went cold shortly after all investigative leads were ultimately exhausted, police said.

Over the years advancements in technology opened up new opportunities to further investigate Williams' death, allowing a DNA sample from the victim to be submitted for investigative genealogy with Othram Inc., which specializes in analyzing DNA from degraded materials. This technology helped uncover the boy's identity in September of 2022, which was later confirmed by members of his family according to detectives.

"A teenager who went missing in the 1970s has been known only as "John Doe" for decades until recent technology and dogged investigators led to his true identity," said Donald Alway, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office.

Generations of LBPD detectives over the last four decades inherited the case details, expanding the search internationally to find the boy's identity but came up empty. Convicted serial killer Randy Kraft, also known as the Scorecard Killer, who killed a minimum of 16 young men in California between 1972 and 1983 was once believed to be responsible for his death but was eventually ruled out.

Willaims was never reported as missing though his last attended school day was Oct. 27, 1977 according to records provided to LBPD by the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District Police. LBPD asked for the public's help on Wednesday to aid in developing investigative leads that could aid in identifying a suspect after all these years.

"Justice delayed doesn't have to be justice denied in this case," Alway said. "Kenneth Nevada Williams is now a known victim and identifying his killer is the next step in solving this case."

Anyone who could have any insight on the case, including Williams' whereabouts between Oct. 27, 1997 to June 3, 1978 is urged to call the LBPD Homicide Detail, Missing Persons Section at 562-570-7246. Anonymous reports can be made by calling 800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.