Summary

In February 1981, the skeletal remains of an unidentified individual were found in on Hwy 33 in Ojai, a city in Ventura County, California. Numerous bones were found within a 30-foot range, along with a green army-style jacket and two pairs of glasses, including prescription sunglasses. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office responded and began investigating. The Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office determined the remains belonged to a White male, estimated to be in his late 20s to 30s and standing between 5'7" and 5'8" tall. The cause of death could not be determined and the man could not be identified.

In 2004, a traditional STR DNA profile was developed for comparison to missing persons and entered into CODIS, but no matches were returned. Despite a lengthy investigation, the case went cold and the man became known as Ventura County John Doe (1981). Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP60166.

In 2025, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and Medical Examiner’s Office submitted forensic evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas where scientists determined that advanced DNA testing could help identify the man. Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the provided evidence and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the man. This profile was returned to law enforcement who conducted a forensic genetic genealogy search to develop new investigative leads in the case.

Using this new information, a follow-up investigation was conducted leading investigators to potential relatives of the man. Reference DNA samples were collected from a family who had been missing a relative for almost 50 years and compared to the DNA profile of the unidentified man. This investigation led to the positive identification of the man, who is now known to be Thomas Aquinas Cooney, born October 5, 1950.

Cooney, a Vietnam War veteran and Bronze Star recipient, was born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. If he had been alive when his remains were found, he would have been 30 years old.

Very little is known about Thomas Cooney's life or the circumstances surrounding his death. Anyone with information about his whereabouts prior to the discovery of his remains is urged to contact the Ventura County Sheriff's Office Cold Case Unit at (805) 383-8739 or email coldcase@venturacounty.gov.

Individuals who have taken a consumer DNA test can aid ongoing forensic investigations by joining the DNASolves database. Expanding the pool of available DNA profiles increases the likelihood of successful identifications, helping to reunite families with their missing loved ones and resolve cases that have remained unsolved for years.

The identification of Thomas Aquinas Cooney represents the 73rd case in the State of California where officials have publicly identified an individual using technology developed by Othram. Visit DNASolves to learn about other California cases where your support can help bring long-awaited answers to families.