Menlo Park Remains Identified as San Jose Man Missing Since 1984

The remains found in Menlo Park in 1985 have been positively identified as Brian Edward Jones, a 20-year-old San Jose man who disappeared in December 1984. This breakthrough was achieved through advanced DNA technology and a familial match found in the FBI's Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) using a sample submitted in 2016. The San Mateo County Coroner's Office exhumed the remains in October 2023, and the California Department of Justice, in partnership with the Texas-based lab Othram, conducted extensive DNA testing that ultimately confirmed the identity. Jones had reportedly been despondent after a breakup before his disappearance, but the cause of death remains unclear, and authorities have not disclosed whether foul play is suspected. The case highlights the growing impact of DNA technology in resolving cold cases, with Othram's director noting the lab averages nearly one case solved per day. Federal funding and grants have supported backlogs in forensic investigations, enabling agencies to apply new techniques to long-unsolved cases.