Human remains found in Northern California in 1988 identified as homicide investigation continues
PLUMAS COUNTY – The remains of a man found in a secluded area of Northern California in the late 1980s have been identified, and now authorities are seeking information about how he became a victim of a homicide.
On April 21, 1988, tree removal crews were working in a secluded area near Quincy, California, when they found a bone sticking out of the ground. The worker dug up the object and discovered clothing with the bone.
The Plumas County Sheriff's Office responded and confirmed it was human skeletal remains.
Based on evidence from the scene, deputies believed the grave was dug sometime between the growing season of 1985 and 1986.
The remains were transferred to California State University, Chico's anthropology department, where they found the remains appeared to be those of a man between the ages of 35 and 45. They also located a hole in the back of the skull, consistent with a gunshot wound.
Despite several efforts in the late 1980s, the remains were never identified.
However, in 2022, Chico State's anthropology department contacted the Plumas County Sheriff's Office to say it was reexamining the case.
The department also added the victim to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System and Combined DNA Index System.
In 2023, evidentiary bone samples were submitted for testing and analysis. Come April 2024, the sheriff's office said the results of the investigative genealogy revealed the remains could be those of Paul Richard Davis, a former resident of Kern County.
Two blood-related family members living in the Bakersfield area were contacted by Plumas County detectives and agreed to voluntarily provide DNA samples.
The samples provided strong support that the decedent is related to the family.
The family told detectives that Davis had been living a transient lifestyle. They said he would call them every six months or so until the calls stopped in the early 80s.
Family members said they were not aware of a reason why Davis would have been in Plumas County.
Detectives said the last known contact of Davis was Jan. 11, 1983, when he was released from custody in Santa Rosa for petty theft.
Now detectives are searching for more information as to how Davis became a victim of a homicide.
