In July 1986, 21-year-old Warren David Hawkins was last seen at a bus or train depot in Kelso, Washington. His mother, who is now deceased, had dropped him and another unidentified man off. From that day, his family never heard from him again. Hawkins was described as being between 6 feet 2 inches and 6 feet 4 inches tall, weighing around 200 pounds, with dark brown hair and brown eyes. He had a distinct four-inch-long, light brown birthmark on his inner wrist.
In the months leading up to his disappearance, Hawkins had some encounters with law enforcement, including charges for resisting arrest and third-degree theft, and had been sentenced to 25 days in jail for second-degree burglary.
For over 25 years, Warren Hawkins's whereabouts remained a painful mystery for his family. Then, in October 2012, a family kayaking and mushroom hunting near Piercy, California, made a grim discovery. They spotted a pair of sneakers sticking out of the ground along the Eel River. Upon investigation, they found human remains and promptly contacted the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office. Responding detectives and forensic anthropologists excavated a shallow grave, unearthing the partial skeletal remains of a man. The man's skull was missing, and the style of clothing suggested the remains had been there since the 1980s. Due to the circumstances of the burial, the case was immediately considered a homicide. The unidentified man became known as the 'Skeleton in Sneakers.'
The case went cold for more than a decade until, in 2024, advancements in forensic science provided a long-awaited breakthrough. The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office sent DNA evidence to a specialized lab for forensic-grade genome sequencing and genetic genealogy. This advanced testing developed a DNA profile that led investigators to potential relatives of the unidentified man. DNA samples from Hawkins' sister confirmed that the remains were indeed those of Warren David Hawkins. The identification brought a bittersweet resolution to his family, who could finally bring his remains home. However, the case remains an active homicide investigation, as the circumstances surrounding his death and the absence of his skull are still under investigation. Authorities urge anyone with information about Warren Hawkins' disappearance or death to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office.Last Seen: Jul 6, 1986
