After 35 years, the unidentified remains found in Placer County have been identified as Wendy Abrams-Nishikai, a missing Berkeley woman last seen on Halloween in 1989. The Placer County Sheriff's Office Cold Case Unit used advancements in forensic genealogy to identify Abrams-Nishikai, providing closure to her family. The circumstances surrounding her death remain under investigation.
Investigators have identified human remains discovered over 30 years ago off an embankment in Placer County as those of a missing Berkeley woman. The Placer County Sheriff's Office identified the remains as Wendy Abrams-Nishikai. According to the Charley Project, the then-21-year-old was a University of California, Berkeley student when she went missing. She left behind a young daughter. Abrams-Nishikai was last seen on Halloween in 1989 and was reported missing in Berkeley.
Her remains were found in 1990 near an embankment on Yankee Jims Road in Colfax. The remains and the missing person's case went unidentified and unsolved for three decades, authorities said. The case was reopened when the Placer County Sheriff's Office formed a Cold Case Unit in 2024. Through advancements in forensic genealogy, investigators identified a likely next of kin. Additional DNA samples from other family members helped investigators positively identify the remains as those of Abrams-Nishikai. The circumstances surrounding her death are still under investigation. 'We hope this identification provides some closure to her surviving family members after 35 years of uncertainty,' the sheriff's office said
Cold Case Forensic Genealogy Missing Person Homicide Placer County
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Tarrant County hired new jail chief from Dallas County for role left vacant since MayThe Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office announced it has hired the head of Dallas County jails to oversee its own operations.
Read more »
Cold Weather Shelters Open Across Snohomish CountyAs temperatures drop, shelters in Snohomish County open their doors to provide warmth and safety to vulnerable residents. Local residents share their experiences and the importance of these shelters during the colder months.
Read more »
Deep freeze hitting Harris County: Officials share precautions for the cold frontHarris County is preparing for an impending Arctic front, with Judge Lina Hidalgo announcing a readiness plan to keep residents safe and warm.
Read more »
Extreme Cold Warning Issued for Northern Erie, Southern Erie, and Crawford CountyThe National Weather Service issued an extreme cold warning for Northern Erie, Southern Erie, and Crawford County, predicting dangerously cold wind chills as low as 27 degrees below zero. The warning advises residents to take precautions against frostbite and hypothermia, including dressing in layers, avoiding prolonged exposure to the cold, and ensuring outdoor animals have adequate shelter.
Read more »
Investigators seek tips in 1975 cold case stabbing death of Bucks County teen in Middletown Twp.17-year-old Patricia 'Patty' Bartlett was stabbed to death in the parking lot of the Oxford Valley Mall in Middletown Twp. in 1975
Read more »
Georgia Power reports over 7,000 customers without power in Glynn County amid cold weatherGeorgia Power reported that over 7,000 customers are without power in Glynn County amid the cold weather that hit the area.
Read more »