Summary

On July 23, 1990, rescue crews responding to a vehicle accident on California Highway 33 in Ventura County, California discovered the remains of an unidentified woman on a steep hillside near the intersection of Creek Road. The woman's partial remains were found about 60 feet down the hillside, and subsequent searches recovered additional skeletal elements and five teeth. Near the remains, investigators found a hairbrush, a metal clasp, and two small pieces of cloth.

Efforts to identify the woman, including area searches, dental comparisons, and a facial reconstruction drawing created from the skull, were unsuccessful. Despite continued investigative work, the case went cold, and she remained unidentified for decades. The case was entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP15158.

In 2025, investigators with the Ventura County Sheriff's Office-Major Crimes Investigations working with the Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office, submitted evidence to Othram in The Woodlands, Texas.

At Othram, scientists used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to develop a comprehensive SNP profile for the woman. This profile was used by law enforcement in a forensic genetic genealogy search which provided new investigative leads about the woman's identity.

Using these leads, investigators conducted a follow-up investigation that resulted in the identification of the woman as 57-year-old Patricia Diana (Hunt) Fielding. Patricia was from Taft, California and a mother of four.

The Ventura County Sheriff's Office-Major Crimes Investigations is seeking public assistance from anyone who knew Patricia during the relevant time period or who has information about her associates, whereabouts, or activities. Investigators can be contacted by referencing case number 90-55883.

This is the 92nd publicly announced case in the State of California where investigators have used Othram's technology to identify an individual. Learn about other cases by visiting Othram's website.