Partial skeletal remains discovered more than 40 years ago in Southern California have been identified through DNA technology as belonging to a missing Vietnam War veteran and Bronze Star recipient, authorities announced this week.
The victim has been identified as Thomas Aquinas Cooney, born on Oct. 5, 1950, in Bryn Mawr, Pa., the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release issued Monday, Nov. 24.
Hikers first found the remains near mile marker 43.50 on Highway 33 in Ojai, Calif., in February 1981 and alerted authorities.
At the scene, investigators recovered a green army-style jacket and two pairs of glasses alongside the remains. At the time, officials determined that the remains belonged to a White man in his late 20s or 30s.
“The cause of death could not be determined,” the sheriff’s office said this week.
In 2004, the medical examiner’s office submitted evidence from the case to the Department of Justice, according to the sheriff’s office.
However, the material was not entered into the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) because only a partial DNA profile could be developed. The case was later added to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System.
In August, the sheriff’s office partnered with Redgrave Research Forensic Services to pursue genetic genealogy research in the long-unsolved John Doe case, the company said in its own news release.
DNA analysis indicated that the victim’s ancestors were of European descent and that his genetic relatives had Slovak ancestry.
Two months ago, Redgrave Research identified a probable sibling group that likely included the John Doe, according to the company. After investigators contacted the family, they agreed to submit their DNA for comparison to the remains.
“They also mentioned that one of their brothers had gone missing prior to the discovery of the remains,” Redgrave Research said. “The family had done extensive searching as well as hired a private investigator in hopes of finding their missing relative, but unfortunately they were unable to find out what happened to him.”
Following the comparisons, both the sheriff’s office and Redgrave Research confirmed that the victim was Cooney.
“We are honored to assist in giving Tom his name back,” Dr. Anthony Redgrave of Redgrave Research Forensic Services said in a statement. “Our team extends our deep condolences to his family and friends, and we hope that having an answer as to what happened to him brings them some peace, even if it’s not the answer anyone ever wants.”
“Thomas Aquinas Cooney can finally rest with his name restored. My heart goes out to his family, who searched for so long. Thank you to everyone who worked to bring him home,” added Araseli Acevedo, an investigator with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, according to Redgrave Research’s news release.
The sheriff’s office has asked anyone with information about Cooney’s activities or whereabouts before his remains were discovered to contact investigators at 805-383-8739 or coldcase@venturacounty.gov.
