Cold Cases of the Golden Coast

On Sunday, August 27, 1972, two hikers discovered human remains near a foot trail on the top of a hill in a forest area just inside unincorporated Jefferson County, CO. The skeleton was found on Forest Road 554, off Highway 285, about one mile east of the line between Park and Jefferson Counties. The site is near the Miller Gulch Trailhead, inside the Pike-San Isabel National Forest. The discovery was made southeast of Bailey, Park County, CO, which is the closest large community to the exact location.  The hikers promptly reported their discovery to the Park County Sheriff's Office; officers from that jurisdiction then notified authorities in Jefferson County. Responders to the scene named by the press were a Lieutenant Perkins, Investigator Piper, and Officer Robbins of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office (JCSO), as well as Dr. John Hunt of the Coroner's Office. Captain Denny Boeka of the JCSO later responded to questions from the press.  At the scene the investigator...

On Sunday, September 7, 1969, three brothers — Charles, Larry, and Phillip Law — were out with their wives and children, hiking, target shooting, and picnicking in the area of Whitaker Peak, approximately 16-19mi south of Gorman and 9-10mi north of Castaic, Los Angeles County, CA. This area is within the Angeles National Forest, and  about one mile off of the old Golden State Highway . At about 2pm that day the brothers were walking along a trail near Whitaker Peak/Summit, a short distance from the Ridge Route, when they smelled a foul odor.  Charles Law looked under the trees to the sides of the trail and saw what he first thought was a deer. When he got closer, he saw a leg sticking up and realized that he was looking at a human body. From there the Law brothers notified authorities as soon as they were able to do so. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) and Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office (LACME) responded to the scene. The Law brothers and...

On Sunday, July 11, 1971, the skeletal remains of a female were discovered 40 to 50 ft down an embankment from the north side of the Angeles Crest Highway, 0.25mi west of the Red Box Canyon Ranger Station in Montrose, LA County, CA. She was found on the ground about 40 ft north of what was possibly a shallow grave site in the Angeles National Forest. Aerial photo of the general Red Box area in the Angeles National Forest from Google Maps. Jane Doe's COD is unknown, though she is estimated to have died up to one year before being discovered. Her death is being investigated as a homicide. Due to the state of her remains, investigators were unable to determine some things about Jane Doe, including her race, weight, and eye color. Jane Doe is estimated to have been 15 to 25 years old when she died, though the estimated age group on NamUs is "Adult - Pre 20." While NamUs states that Jane Doe was measured to be 5'3, NCMEC and the Doe Network list her height as 5'3 to 5...