Summary
In February 1991, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) responded to a report of human remains found at Houda Point near Trinidad. A human mandible was recovered after a search of the area. An STR profile was developed from the mandible and entered into state and national DNA databases. The DNA profile was also compared with profiles from both missing persons and other human remains cases in CODIS. Unfortunately, there was no match found to a known identity. Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP53984. With all leads exhausted, the case eventually went cold.
In 2023, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas to determine if advanced DNA testing could help identify the unknown individual. Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the provided evidence and used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the individual. Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team then used this profile to conduct extensive genetic genealogy research, ultimately providing new investigative leads to law enforcement.
Using this new information, a follow-up investigation was conducted leading investigators to potential relatives of the individual. Reference DNA samples for a potential relative were collected and compared to the DNA profile for the unknown individual. This investigation led to the positive identification of the individual, who is now known to be Milton Leon Pellegrini, Jr, born November 12, 1966.
In December 1987, the 70-foot commercial fishing vessel “Midnight Sun” capsized while trying to enter Humboldt Bay during a storm. Although the skipper survived, two crew members were unaccounted for and one was confirmed dead. Milton Leon Pelligrini Jr. is one of the crew members whose body was not recovered after the accident.
If you have any information regarding a missing person, or cold homicide please contact Investigator Mike Fridley at 707-441-3024.
The identification of Milton Leon Pellegrini, Jr represents the 42nd case in the State of California where officials have publicly identified an individual using technology developed by Othram. Most recently in Ventura County, California, Russell Alexander Stewart, whose remains were found in California’s Los Padres National Forest, was identified after nearly four decades.
Michael Vogen
Director of Case Management
Michael works with law enforcement agencies throughout the United States and Canada on “unsolvable“ cases that can benefit from advanced DNA testing methods. He helps these agencies use cutting edge DNA sequencing and new forensic techniques to develop investigative leads for their cases.