CA CA - Sanger, Middle-aged WhtFem, badly burned bones found in trash bag, August 1999

[MadMcGoo]

Date of Discovery: August 25, 1999
Place of Discovery: Sanger, Fresno County, California
Sex: Female
Race: White
PMI: A few weeks to a few months
Estimated Age: Middle-aged; 45-55
Estimated Height: 5’4”
Estimated Weight: Slight to medium build
Hair/Eye Color: Cannot Estimate

Distinguishing Characteristics: The skull contained wisdom teeth, fillings and bridgework. The dental work is said to have been expensive and extensive.

Circumstances of Discovery: A Fresno County road crew discovered the remains near a vineyard in an unincorporated area north of Sanger, less than 2 feet from Woods Avenue on the south dirt shoulder. The burned bones (a skull, ribs, arms, legs and vertebrae) were inside a large, black plastic bag which workers said was not there 6 days prior. Dental charts and DNA may be available. Sandra Lynn Kerby was ruled out as a match by way of dental comparison.

The Fresno Bee 26 Aug 1999, page 7 - Newspapers.com

View the digital scanned newspaper from The Fresno Bee dated 26 Aug 1999, page 7.

www.newspapers.com

The Fresno Bee 27 Aug 1999, page 21 - Newspapers.com

View the digital scanned newspaper from The Fresno Bee dated 27 Aug 1999, page 21.

www.newspapers.com

The Fresno Bee 21 Sep 1999, page 1 - Newspapers.com

View the digital scanned newspaper from The Fresno Bee dated 21 Sep 1999, page 1.

www.newspapers.com

 

[iulia]

Added to NamUs - UP152452

ME/C Case Number 99-08-0078

Biological Sex Female
Race/Ethnicity White / Caucasian, Hispanic / Latino, American Indian / Alaska Native, Other
Estimated Age Group Adult - Pre 50
Height 5' 4"(64 inches) , Estimated
Weight Cannot Estimate

Type Unidentified Deceased
Date Body Found August 25, 1999
NamUs Case Created November 17, 2025

Location Sanger, California 93657
County Fresno County
GPS Coordinates (Not Mapped) --
Found On Tribal Land No

Circumstances of Recovery The body was decomposed, skeletal remains found in Sanger, California.

Inventory of Remains --
Condition of Remains Not recognizable - Partial skeletal parts only

Hair Color Red/Auburn
Left Eye Color Unknown
Right Eye Color Unknown

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

 

[Tired Professor]

I believe these were the remains mistakenly ID’d by local media as Sandra Kerby who is missing out of Fresno Ca. If so, that seems to be where it ended in terms of media attention for this set of remains. I wonder if DNA is available.

 

[Caring1]

One of the articles above states “in all likelihood she was a middle aged caucasian woman age 45-55”. However, NamUs now shows a diverse ethnic possibility. (Female - Multiple)

Race / EthnicityWhite / Caucasian, Hispanic / Latino, American Indian / Alaska Native, Other

Article also states that dental records have been sent to the State DOJ and Coroner’s officials were to do the same with DNA. No rule outs so not sure what was done from that point.

Keeping in mind her hair was described as red/auburn.

A crew picking nectarines 6 days prior had not noticed anything at that time. Also the vineyard had been disced just 10 days before. Had to look that up, description below. Certainly, the bag would have been noticed had it already been there. The owner’s of the orchard said the bag had not been there long. The skull was described as having a beautiful set of teeth which were all there. Bones and ashes were what was in the bag so the remains had been burned.

Discing a vineyard is a mechanical cultivation practice used to manage the soil and vegetation between vine rows. It involves pulling a heavy harrow with large, saucer-shaped, steel discs behind a tractor to cut into the soil, break up compacted earth, and incorporate weeds or cover crops into the ground.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

The Coroner had stated in above article that it’s entirely possible this case may never be solved.

@othram