Cold Case Investigation in East County 

June 16, 2024 – San Diego County Sheriff's Department officials report that the Sheriff's Homicide Unit is asking for the public's assistance in the cold case disappearance of an East County man. 

Christopher Schafer was last seen by his family in El Cajon in August 1997. He was 28 years old at the time of his disappearance.

In 2012, skeletal remains were discovered in an area of Sloane Canyon in Alpine. The San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office used familial DNA to identify the remains in 2022. Familial DNA is a tool that searches for family members of an unknown person using genetic material found at the crime scene. The Medical Examiner identified the remains as Schafer.  

The investigation into Schafer's disappearance is ongoing.

The Sheriff's Homicide Unit would like to talk to anyone who may have information about Schafer and what may have happened to him. He was known to frequent Sycuan Casino and Viejas Casino in the East County. 

Anyone with information about this incident can call Sheriff's Homicide Detective Jessica Kuehn at (858) 285-6361.

You can remain anonymous by calling San Diego County Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477. A reward of up to $1,000 is being offered for information that leads to an arrest and conviction.

Source & photo: San Diego County Sheriff's Department