Summary
On August 30, 1993, partial human remains were discovered during the clean-up of a dump site located off Beardsley Road, a short distance north of Wright Road, in an unincorporated area of Ventura County outside the City of Camarillo. The Ventura County Medical Examiner responded to the scene and collected the remains for further analysis. The Medical Examiner confirmed the remains were human and sent them to be analyzed by an anthropologist. The partial human remains were determined to be the lower leg bones of a male subject and to be that of a male individual between the ages of 13 and 18 years old.
Despite a lengthy investigation, the person could not be identified and became known as Camarillo John Doe (1993). Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP128289.
In March 2025, the Ventura County Medical Examiner provided the Ventura County Sheriff's Office forensic evidence to submit to Othram Labs to determine if advanced DNA testing could aid in identifying the remains. 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 person. Othram's in-house forensic genetic genealogy team then worked to provide the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit with new genealogy leads to help with the identification.
The Cold Case Unit investigated the genealogy leads provided by Othram conducting numerous interviews, telephone calls, and identified possible close relatives of “Camarillo Teen 1993”. Reference DNA samples were collected from potential relatives and compared to the DNA profile of “Camarillo Teen 1993” using KinSNP Rapid Relationship Testing.
"Camarillo Teen 1993" is now identified as Joseph Patrick Reardon, born June 17, 1970. Reardon is also known as Joe Gilbreth. Critical details surrounding Reardon's life and whereabouts remain unknown. The Cold Case Unit is actively seeking the public's help. Those with information are asked to contact Investigator Guy Moody by calling 805-383-8723 or emailing Guy.Moody@venturacounty.gov.
This case was funded by Roads to Justice as part of Othram's Project 525 initiative. Project 525, launched on May 23, 2024 in collaboration with RTI, the organization that manages the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) program, aims to bring resolution to five hundred twenty-five juvenile cases published in NamUs.
This is the 85th publicly announced case in the State of California where officials leveraged Othram’s identity inference pipeline. Explore other cases on Othram’s website.
Dan Miller
Director of Customer Service
Dan guides law enforcement agencies across the United States and internationally through every step of the forensic process—from crime scene to courtroom. He ensures investigators have the support and resources they need to navigate advanced DNA testing and maximize the impact of forensic evidence in their cases.