Human remains found in Ojai 35 years ago identified as mother of four – NBC Los Angeles

Human remains found in Ojai 35 years ago identified as mother of four  NBC Los Angeles

The woman was identified as Patricia Diana Hunt Fielding, born in Kern County on Oct. 15, 1933. Human remains discovered more than 35 years ago in Ojai have been identified as those of a mother of four, according to the Ventura County Sheriff's Office. Using advanced DNA testing and forensic genealogy, authorities identified the woman as Patricia Diana Hunt Fielding, who was born Oct. 15, 1933, in Kern County. The remains were discovered July 23, 1990, near Highway 33 and Creek Road in an unincorporated area of Ojai. Firefighters responding to a traffic collision down an embankment found the partial skeletal remains. Here, the Ventura County Sheriff's Department Search and Rescue Team assisted in searching for additional evidence, while the Medical Examiner's Office recovered the remains for examination.

Investigators initially determined that the remains belonged to a woman between 30 and 60 years old who stood approximately 5 feet 3 inches to 5 feet 6 inches tall. The cause of death could not be determined. Evidence collected during the investigation was submitted to the California Department of Justice for DNA analysis. A DNA profile was developed, and information about the case was entered into the Combined DNA Index System and the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. Despite those efforts, the woman's identity remained a mystery for decades. In February