health
Human bone found by family looking for shells on beach traced back to banker missing since 1999
Updated on: March 30, 2026 / 8:59 AM EDT / CBS News
TL;DR
- A human bone found on Salmon Creek State Beach in 2022 was identified as Walter Karl Kinney, missing since 1999.
- Kinney, a former banker, was last seen in August 1999.
- This is the second time Kinney's remains have been identified as a John Doe; previously, remains found in Bodega Bay were identified as him.
- The DNA Doe Project used investigative genetic genealogy to link the bone to Kinney by tracing his relatives.
- Kinney's daughter described him as sensitive, suggesting he found the world too harsh.