CA CA - Quincy, MultiMale, 40-60, UP88456, JC Penny undershorts, stocky build, bullet wound in skull, April'88

[heartanium]

NAMUS UP88456
Unidentified Male
Location Found: Quincy, Plumas County, California
Date Found: April 21, 1988

Race: Multiple (Hispanic / Latino, American Indian / Alaska Native), poss. Caucasian (newspapers)
PMI: Unknown, ~4 years (newspapers)
Estimated year of Death: Unknown, possibly 1985-1986 (newspapers)
Estimated Age: 40-60 years, possibly 35-45 years (newspapers)
Height: 5' 5"-6' 1"(65-73 inches) , Estimated
Weight: Cannot estimate, described as “Stocky”
Hair: Unknown
Eye Color: Unknown
Clothing: JC Penny brand undershorts size 36
Circumstances: Skeletal remains found in Quincy, California.

Condition of Remains: Not recognizable - Near complete or complete skeleton
Inventory of Remains: Unknown

Agency Info:
ME/C Case Number: 88-2184

Plumas County Sheriff's Office - (530) 283-6375
Agency Case Number: Unknown
Kris Frazier, Detective

0 Exclusions

CASE MEDIA

23 April 1988, The Sacramento Bee, pg 15

“Sheriff’s deputies dug the skeletal remains after the bone was reported Thursday by Asplundh Tree Service employees working in the right of way.”

“Both jaws were intact”

“He [Lt. John Stoy, Plumas County Sheriff] knew of no local missing persons.”

27 April 1988, Feather River Bulletin, pg 3

“According to a sheriff’s press release, the crew was trimming trees under a power line one mile southwest of Purdy Lane and Highway 70 on April 21, when David J. Vanderplas….saw part of a bone sticking out of the ground”

“The bones had been buried for an unknown length of time, but appear to have been in place for a considerable length of time.”

18 May 1988, Feather River Bulletin, pg 3

“Lt. Don Stoy told Feather Publishing a small hole, resembling an entry wound of a bullet, was discovered in the back of the skull.”

“A forensic anthropologist at [Chico State] examined the nearly complete skeleton and found it to be that of a stocky adult male, approximately 35 to 45 years of age…”

“The person was either Caucasian or Mongoloid, which includes American Indians, and that the body could have been buried as recently as four years ago.”

“Tests done on roots which were cut during construction of the grave indicate that they were most likely cut during the 1985-1986 growing season.”

“It looks like he was beat up, shot, and dumped…the actual murder could have happened anywhere and the body was brought to a remote part of the county for disposal.”

 

[subaw0067]

Paul Steven Cosner? 39 years old when he went missing in November of 1984 on his way to sell a vehicle. Unknown where he was going.

Philip Zarber 47 years old when he went missing from San Rafael in September of 1985. 5'10" and 180lbs. Rumored to have been murdered.

 

[heartanium]

Paul Steven Cosner? 39 years old when he went missing in November of 1984 on his way to sell a vehicle. Unknown where he was going.

Philip Zarber 47 years old when he went missing from San Rafael in September of 1985. 5'10" and 180lbs. Rumored to have been murdered.

I think Philip Zarber would be the best match between the two - he's about the right weight for a 36" waist size, and his 1985 disappearance would match when the grave was dug. I would submit if you feel comfortable to.

For Cosner, the bullet wound in the back of the head for this UID would match the bullet holes found on his car, but I suspect his body would be buried closer to Calaveras County (assuming he was a victim of Leonard Lake and Richard Ng). I'm not super versed in those two but the majority of their victims were found on their property in Wilseyville.

 

[subaw0067]

I think Philip Zarber would be the best match between the two - he's about the right weight for a 36" waist size, and his 1985 disappearance would match when the grave was dug. I would submit if you feel comfortable to.

For Cosner, the bullet wound in the back of the head for this UID would match the bullet holes found on his car, but I suspect his body would be buried closer to Calaveras County (assuming he was a victim of Leonard Lake and Richard Ng). I'm not super versed in those two but the majority of their victims were found on their property in Wilseyville.

I'll go ahead and submit.

 

[subaw0067]

I just sent an email to the agencies of both cases.

 

[heartanium]

I just sent an email to the agencies of both cases.

Great to hear, keep us updated if you hear back!

 

[subaw0067]

Great to hear, keep us updated if you hear back!

 

[heartanium]

View attachment 454501

Good to hear Zarba's daughter's DNA is in CODIS, but unfortunately from the lack of exclusions it looks like these remains may not have DNA to compare to :\. Hoping these remains were buried and not cremated.

 

[subaw0067]

Good to hear Zarba's daughter's DNA is in CODIS, but unfortunately from the lack of exclusions it looks like these remains may not have DNA to compare to :\. Hoping these remains were buried and not cremated.

Thats my next item to find out.

 

[heartanium]

Thats my next item to find out.

Keep us updated! I shot an email to Ortham to see if they'd be able to take on this case if his remains are still available.

 

[subaw0067]

They both have DNA in CODIS. I requested that the exclusion be added in NAMUS.

 

[iulia]

His NamUs page has been removed.

 

[HmmMysterious]

Identified by @othram as Paul Richard Davis, a former resident of Kern County, California.

After 35 years, Plumas County John Doe (1985) is Identified

Paul was last heard from in January of 1983 when he called his family after getting out of jail in Santa Rosa, California for petty theft. Rest in peace Paul.