Human Bone Found Off California Coast Solves 26-Year Missing Fisherman Mystery

A human bone discovered on a Northern California beach has provided closure in the case of a fisherman who disappeared more than 26 years ago.

Jonathan Raxa was lost at sea on December 14, 1999, when an 18-foot wave struck the commercial fishing boat Silver Spray off the coast of California. The wave reportedly ripped the pilothouse from the main hull, and Raxa vanished into the water.

His crewmates recounted the harrowing experience, with skipper Al Burns telling The Los Angeles Times in 2000 that he believed he was going to die as the 35-foot boat sank. Burns stated he watched his crew members disappear into the sea, and he was subsequently washed away by a second wave before being rescued by the other two surviving crew members.

Raxa, who was 37 at the time of his disappearance and had three children, was never seen again until this past spring.

A pelvic bone was discovered on Centerville Beach in Northern California and reported to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies recovered the bone, identified it as a human sacrum, and sent it to the California Department of Justice for DNA analysis.

The DNA profile generated from the remains matched family DNA associated with Raxa, the sheriff's office announced last Wednesday. The discovery was made approximately 15 miles south of where the Silver Spray sank.

According to KTLA, Raxa was a devout Christian who had been saving for an evangelical trip to Laos, his ancestral home.

The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office highlighted the significance of the discovery, stating in a news release that "this case highlights the importance of collecting and preserving DNA samples from family members of missing persons." The office added that "These samples can provide critical investigative leads and assist law enforcement in identifying missing persons and resolving cases, even decades after a person’s disappearance."

Raxa's family has been notified of the identification of his remains.