The 1988 cold case murder of an unidentified man in Quincy, California, has finally been solved using investigative genetic genealogy(IGG)
Thanks to the relentless investigative efforts by law enforcement and advancements in DNA forensics, the victim has been identified as Paul Richard Davis.
He was a former Kern County resident, according to DNASOLVES.
This breakthrough highlights the transformative power of advanced DNA analysis in solving cold cases that once seemed unsolvable.
It all began on April 21, 1988, when a tree removal crew working near Quincy stumbled upon human remains in a shallow grave.
Forensic experts soon discovered that the skeletal remains belonged to a Caucasian male and was estimated to be between 35 and 45 years old.
Additionally, he had a hole in the back of his skull which looked like a gunshot wound, as reported by KRCRTV
Despite extensive efforts at the time, including DNA analysis and dental record comparisons, criminal investigators were unable to identify the victim.
The case went cold, but advancements in DNA forensics and investigative genealogy reignited hope.
In 2022, the Plumas County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) partnered with the FBI and private labs to reexamine the evidence using modern techniques.
After combining DNA analysis with publicly available genealogy databases, forensic experts were able to build a family tree and identify potential relatives of the unknown victims.
The breakthrough came in 2024 when investigative genetic genealogy led detectives to two living relatives of Paul Davis in Bakersfield, California.
The relatives voluntarily provided DNA samples, which came back as a match, ultimately confirming Paul's Davis identity.
For over three decades, Davis’s family had no idea what happened to him after he stopped contacting them in the early 1980s.
Now, they finally have answers, thanks to the tireless work of law enforcement and the innovative use of forensic science.
Paul Davis’s family described him as someone who lived a transient lifestyle with a history of substance abuse.
He would occasionally call them, but the calls stopped abruptly in the early 1980s.
The last known contact was in January 1983, when Davis was released from custody in Santa Rosa for petty theft.
For decades, his family had no idea what had happened to him.
The identification of his remains brings closure, but the investigation into his murder continues.
If you have any information about Paul Richard Davis or his associates, please contact the Plumas County Sheriff’s Office Detective Unit at (530) 283-6363.
Every tip brings us closer to solving this unsolved murder mystery.
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