Man, 20, Vanished After Leaving for Work 40 Years Ago. His Remains Were Just Identified

Remains recovered successful a California parkland 4 decades agone person yet been identified arsenic a missing man who vanished aft leaving for work.

Brian Edward Jones was 20 years aged erstwhile he was past seen connected Jan. 7, 1985, according to nan San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office.

Family said they past saw him successful December 1984 arsenic he near for work, FOX connection KTVU reported.

Authorities said Jones “was very despondent” pursuing a break-up pinch his girlfriend, and “made statements that he was going to jump disconnected of a bridge.”

Four months later, partial remains were recovered successful Menlo Park, according to KTVU and ABC connection KGO-TV.

The remains were exhumed successful October 2023, KTVU and Patch reported.

The DNA was reportedly submitted to nan Combined DNA Index System, an FBI-maintained database, and later showed a imaginable biologic narration betwixt nan remains recovered successful Menlo Park and a sample submitted arsenic portion of a 2016 missing personification report.

In April 2025, nan San Mateo County Coroner’s Office learned location was a beardown familial narration betwixt nan aforementioned samples.

After further testing, nan agency announced connected Friday, May 23, that nan remains recovered successful Menlo Park belonged to Jones. It remains unclear really he died.

Coroner Robert Foucrault applauded his unit for nan difficult activity they did connected nan case, according to nan San Mateo Daily Journal.

“For my unit that worked connected it, it’s a occupation good done because they’ve put closure connected a lawsuit for someone’s loved 1 that’s been missing for a agelong time,” he said.

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The coroner's agency besides said it is becoming easier to place antecedently unidentified remains and bring “relief” to families arsenic exertion improves.

“Records backmost past weren’t good documented truthful it takes a batch of activity for my unit to do a batch of investigation and backtracking,” Foucrault said. 

The coroner’s and sheriff’s offices did not instantly respond to PEOPLE’s requests for comment.

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