Woman found dead on California highway in 1996 is identified

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, Calif. (TCD) -- Investigators have recently identified a 1996 homicide victim using genetic genealogy.

In a June 26 press conference, Riverside County District Attorney Michael Hestrin said officials found an unidentifiable female's body on Jan. 27, 1996, along the side of Highway 60, east of Gilman Springs Road between Moreno Valley and Beaumont, California. The victim showed apparent signs of trauma, KTTV-TV reports.

Detectives ruled out a potential robbery because they reportedly found the victim with expensive jewelry.

Hestrin said a forensic artist created a sketch of the victim, but her identity and the case remained unresolved until recently.

According to Riverside County Supervising Investigator James Campos, the Riverside County Regional Cold Case Homicide Team implemented Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (FIGG) to find an ancestral link in connection with the case. The Riverside County District Attorney's Office said the technology uses "direct-to-consumer databases to explore the ancestral ties of unidentified homicide victims."

In December 2022, investigators used FIGG to find the victim's four daughters, who had "nearly lost hope of knowing the whereabouts of their mother."

According to the District Attorney's Office, officials identified the victim as Juana Rosas-Zagal, who was 41 years old at the time of her death.

Campos said he hopes this discovery helps bring about new investigative leads.

In a statement, Hestrin added, "We hope to shed some light on Juana's disappearance 27 years ago and ultimately achieve justice for her family."

MORE:

• Woman whose body was found 27 years ago along Highway 60 has now been identified - Riverside County District Attorney's Office
• Cold Case Update: Victim Identified as Juana Rosas-Zagal - Riverside County District Attorney's Office
• Riverside Co. cold case: Mother of 4 identified as homicide victim after 27 years - KTTV