Orcutt Remains Identified

Orcutt - January 21st, 2009

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Coroner Bureau has identified the human remains found in the Orcutt Hill area south of Stubblefield Road.

The remains were found November 28, 2008 by people walking in the remote area. Following a thorough investigation Detectives had determined that the victim used a handgun to commit suicide several years earlier.

Detectives suspected the remains where that of Ronald Dean Cox (DOB 5/23/56) who was reported missing May 2, 2003. At that time, per SBSO protocol for people missing for more than thirty days, Detectives collected a toothbrush used by Mr. Cox in case a DNA sample might be needed at a future date.

That toothbrush proved instrumental in the DNA testing through the Department of Justice which positively identified the remains as that of Mr. Cox.

-----

For more information regarding news related issues
please contact Drew Sugars, Public Information Officer.

Business Hours: (805) 681-4100
EMAIL:pio@sbsheriff.org