health

Human remains found on California beach in 2022 identified as missing man

DNA testing confirmed bones found on Salmon Creek beach belonged to Walter Karl Kinney, a man last seen in 1999

Human remains found on California beach in 2022 identified as missing man

TL;DR

  • Human remains found on Salmon Creek state beach in June 2022 were identified as Walter Karl Kinney, a former banker who disappeared in 1999.
  • The DNA Doe Project identified the remains using genetic genealogy after a family found a bone with surgical hardware.
  • Kinney was previously identified in 1999 through X-ray records after partial remains were found in Bodega Bay, but this is a new discovery.
  • Kinney's daughter described him as sensitive and stated that the world was too harsh for him.
  • This case is unusual as it involved identifying the same individual as a John Doe twice.