Identified! CA - Westlake Village, HispFem 18-30, UP11249, pregnant, in parking lot, Jul'80. Maricela Rocha Parga

[rose_quartz]

This is such amazing news! I'm so happy she has been identified!

 

[DS2021]

Maricela Rocha Parga

Is that confirmed spelling?

 

[DS2021]

Is that confirmed spelling?

Ventura Co Jane Doe | DNA Doe Project

dnadoeproject.org

Maricela Rocha Parga

 

[Blurgle]

That poor family. At least they got answers in the end.

 

[Triss]

Rest in eternal peace, Maricela. My heart breaks for you and your family.

 

[djanga]

Finally, after years of research, the team began to home in on the family of the unidentified woman. A couple born in the late 1800s in the Mexican state of Zacatecas were identified as the likely great grandparents of Ventura County Jane Doe, at which point the team and investigators began tracking down their descendants. On 9 December 2025, investigators spoke with a great grandson of this couple, and he shared some critical information – his sister, Maricela Rocha Parga, had been missing since 1980.

Maricela was born in 1958 in Monterrey, Mexico, but she later moved with her family to Los Angeles. Following her disappearance, her siblings spent years looking for her, but they were never able to find out what happened to her. After speaking with investigators, two of Maricela’s siblings immediately booked flights and flew to California the next day, where they provided DNA samples. These samples were later used to confirm that the woman known for decades only as Ventura County Jane Doe was in fact Maricela Rocha Parga.

Ventura Co Jane Doe | DNA Doe Project

dnadoeproject.org

 

[moonglow123]

Heartbreaking, but I’m so glad she was finally identified and her family was able to be contacted and aid them. RIP Maricela and baby.

So much amazing hard work being done lately to identify Does and give them their names back, it’s wonderful to see.

 

[MarziPanda]

Not ashamed to admit I cried a little when this popped up on the DNA Doe Project FB page. It's been so long coming. Hours of dedication and hard work. Maricela was so loved by those of us who followed her story, and so loved by her family. RIP.

 

[Friday Fan]

Finally!!

Parga was one of the surnames in Doe DNA's list.

CBS News said her older sister still lives in the house where they were living in 1980 hoping that she would return home.

Is there a link to the press conference??? The vimeo link doesn't work.

 

[Friday Fan]

Found the press conference on YouTube

She was working as a waitress, living in downtown LA
Attending school in the evening, studying to be a nurse
Family became concerned when Maricela failed to show up for her little sister's birthday party. (I assume this was several days later)

Didn't Choust say something about going to a diner? (I think the chain is now out of business)
I think awhile back, we were going over a location at a particular intersection.

 

[djanga]

Do they say if she had another kid? There was evidence of prior pregnancy(s).

 

[The4TierBridge]

Do they say if she had another kid? There was evidence of prior pregnancy(s).

One daughter aged 2 at time of disappearance who is still alive.

 

[CarlK90245]

Finally!!

Parga was one of the surnames in Doe DNA's list.

CBS News said her older sister still lives in the house where they were living in 1980 hoping that she would return home.

Is there a link to the press conference??? The vimeo link doesn't work.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1245613753762116