NORTH COAST, Calif. — New DNA technology has helped the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office positively identify human remains as belonging to a man who was last seen 38 years ago.

The agency reported that it has identified the remains of Warren David Hawkins.

A report from Det. Sgt. Jason Logan said that the investigation in the case began 12 years ago.

On Oct. 30, 2012, at 7 a.m. during the morning shift briefing, Mendocino County Sheriff's Office Dispatch advised then-Sergeant Matt Kendall — who since has become sheriff — that human remains had been discovered, buried in a shallow grave in the Piercy area.

Detectives with the Mendocino County Sheriff's Investigations Bureau responded to the 83000 block of Highway 271 in Piercy, and were provided with a plastic bag containing human foot bones. Photographs taken by the reporting party were also provided to investigators at that time, Logan said.

Sheriff’s detectives utilized kayaks and paddled approximately a quarter mile to the location, where the remains had been discovered.

Forensic anthropologists from California State University in Chico were requested for the excavation / preservation of the buried skeletal remains.

At the conclusion of the excavation, the Forensic Anthropology team unearthed human skeletal remains, which were missing the head. It appeared the remains located within the shallow grave had been there for an extended time, and the partial articles of clothing collected suggested 1980’s styles, Logan said.

Due to the surrounding circumstances this investigation was labeled as a "John Doe" homicide.

An investigation was launched, and multiple attempts to identify the remains of the buried skeletal remains were made, but ultimately unsuccessful.

In Spring 2024, the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office sent forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas.

At Othram's laboratory, scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the forensic evidence and used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the unknown man.

Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team then used this profile to conduct genealogy research, ultimately providing new investigative leads to law enforcement.

The investigative leads presented genealogical findings for a Warren David Hawkins.

After receiving this information, investigators learned that “Warren Hawkins” had been reported missing by his sister, Paula Hawkins, to the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office in Washington.

Paula Hawkins provided a DNA reference sample to the Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office, which was provided to Othram Technology and later used for his identification.

An additional DNA sample was obtained from Paula in 2024 by the Gresham Police Department in Oregon.

The last reported sighting of Hawkins was in July of 1986 when his now-deceased mother dropped off 21-year-old Hawkins and another unknown male at a bus station.

“Because of the hard work and dedication of the above listed agencies, the remains of Warren David Hawkins can now be returned to his family,” Logan said in his report.

In 2023, Othram identified the remains of Kerry Cummings as part of a 25-year-old cold case in Humboldt County.

Earlier this year, Othram also identified human remains belonging to Wanda Lee Brewer that were found along the Hopland Grade in Lake County in 1979, as Lake County News has reported.

Logan said the Hawkins case is still an active and ongoing homicide investigation with the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office and anyone with information related to this case is requested to call the Sheriff's Office Dispatch Center at 707-463-4086.

The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office thanked Othram Technology; California State University, Chico’s Anthropology Department; the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System; the Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office in Washington; and the Gresham Police Department in Oregon.