November 25, 2025 – Ventura County Sheriff’s Office officials report that in February 1981, hikers discovered partial skeletal 
remains near mile marker 43.50 on Highway 33 in Ojai, California, and reported their findings to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. Along with the remains, investigators recovered a green army-style jacket and two pairs of glasses.
The Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office determined the remains belonged to a Caucasian male, estimated to be in his late 20s to 30s and standing between 5’7” and 5’8” tall. The cause of death could not be determined.
In June 2004, the Medical Examiner’s Office submitted evidence to the Department of Justice for DNA analysis. However, only a partial profile was obtained—insufficient for entry into the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). The case was subsequently entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP60166.
Recently, advances in DNA technology produced a complete profile that could finally help identify the unknown man. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office partnered with Redgrave Research Forensic Services to conduct genetic genealogy research.
Through investigative work, detectives located a family who had not heard from a relative in over fifty years. Reference DNA samples were collected from a family member and compared to the unidentified remains, leading to a positive identification.
The man has been identified as Thomas Aquinas Cooney, a Vietnam War veteran and Bronze Star recipient, born October 5, 1950, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.
Very little is known about Thomas Cooney’s life or the circumstances surrounding his death. Anyone with information about his whereabouts prior to the discovery of his remains is urged to contact the Cold Case Unit at (805) 383-8739 or email coldcase@venturacounty.gov.
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Nature of Incident: |
John Doe Identified |
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Report Number: |
81-2044 |
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Location: |
Highway 33, Ojai, CA |
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Date & Time: |
February 1, 1981 |
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Unit(s) Responsible: |
Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Bureau |
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(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent |
City of Residence |
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(D) Thomas Aquinas Cooney |
Unknown |
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