Remains of banker missing since 1999 found on California beach by family looking for seashells
NBC News • • nation
Key Points:
- Partial human remains found in 2022 on Salmon Creek Beach in Sonoma County, California, have been identified as Walter Karl Kinney, a former banker who disappeared in 1999.
- The DNA Doe Project developed a DNA profile from the remains and used genetic genealogy, including the GEDmatch database, to connect the remains to Kinney.
- A critical breakthrough came when investigators linked these remains to previously found remains from 1999 near Bodega Bay, which had been identified as Kinney through x-ray records after a family member's inquiry.
- The case is notable for Kinney being unidentified twice, with the DNA Doe Project emphasizing the role of investigative genetic genealogy in solving the mystery.
- Kinney’s daughter described him as intelligent and sensitive, suggesting he struggled with the harshness of the world, providing a personal context to the tragic case.
