A sacrum found at Centerville Beach in March 2026 was DNA-matched to fisherman Jonathan Raxa, who vanished when his commercial fishing vessel was struck by massive waves in Humboldt Bay on Dec. 14, 1999. Investigators obtained a DNA sample from Raxa's son to confirm the familial match, and the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office notified the family. Officials stressed that family DNA samples can help resolve long-unsolved missing-person cases, even decades later.
27-Year Mystery Solved: Sacrum Found on Centerville Beach Identified as Fisherman Jonathan Raxa
Jonathan Raxa, a California fisherman and father of three who went missing at sea in 1999Credit: Humboldt County Sheriffâs Office
A human sacrum recovered from Centerville Beach in Northern California has been confirmed by DNA testing to belong to fisherman Jonathan Raxa, who vanished at sea on Dec. 14, 1999. The discovery brings closure to a missing-person case that remained unresolved for more than two decades.
Humboldt County Sheriff's deputies responded in March 2026 after a member of the public reported what appeared to be a human bone. The sacrum was submitted to the California Department of Justice for genetic analysis, and investigators worked to locate family members for comparison DNA.
Jonathan RaxaCredit: Humboldt County Sheriffâs Office
Investigation and DNA Identification
Investigators identified and obtained a DNA sample from Raxa's son. Laboratory testing produced a familial match that confirmed the sacrum belonged to Raxa, who was 37 when he disappeared. The Humboldt County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) notified Raxa's family after the confirmation.
"This case highlights the importance of collecting and preserving DNA samples from family members of missing persons. 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," the HCSO said in a news release.
Raxa disappeared after a commercial fishing vessel in Humboldt Bay was struck by a large wave that tore the boat's pilothouse from the vessel and threw crew members into the water. The captain, Al Burns, and two other crewmembers survived. Burns later told the Los Angeles Times that the crew was first hit by an 18-foot wave and then by a 35-foot breaker that sank the boat; he remembered surfacing about 100 yards from where he entered the water and clinging to a floating oil can until he was pulled to safety by crewmates on a raft.
Centerville Beach in CaliforniaCredit: Getty
Raxa was a father of three who had hoped to use proceeds from a successful catch to visit his native Laos, according to a 2000 Los Angeles Times feature about the risks of the commercial fishing industry.
Closure After Decades
The DNA identification advances a decades-old investigation in Humboldt County and underscores the continuing role of forensic DNA and family reference samples in solving cold cases. Authorities say the match brings answers to Raxa's relatives after more than 27 years.
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