Sheriff Renews Plea For Information About Body Found In OC Canyon

TRABUCO CANYON, CA — Orange County Sheriff's investigators sought the public's help this week, after they re-shared images of a John Doe found in Trabuco Canyon nearly 25 years ago in an attempt to generate new leads and identify the decedent.

The rendered images of the John Doe were initially released in 2020 and then again in 2021.

Homicide investigators responded to reports of human remains found in a wilderness area east of Trabuco Creek Road in the unincorporated area of Trabuco Canyon, authorities said in a statement.

At the time of the discovery, authorities found that the body had been there up to two years, with environmental factors affecting the condition of the remains. Because of this, investigators believed the decedent went missing sometime in 1995 or 1996.

According to investigators, the decedent was believed to be around 15-19 years old at his time of death, and roughly 5'2" to 5'8" with a medium build.

Investigators also found that the decedent's teeth were in poor condition.

He was given the name "John Doe" while the Orange County Coroner Division in 2020 partnered with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in an attempt to generate leads that might lead to an identification.

Anyone with information regarding Doe’s identity was urged to call the Orange County Coroner Division at 714-647-7400 or email coroner@OCSheriff.gov with reference number 96-07901-MU.