1994 Cold Case: Remains Identified
August 28, 2026 – Placer County Sheriff's Office officials report that the Placer County Cold Case 
Investigations team has identified the remains of a man found in 1994 in Nyack as George Krusely (4/30/1929).
A partial human skull was found by loggers near a campsite at Putt Lake on July 7, 1994. At the time, detectives estimated the campsite had been there for quite some time, potentially upwards of a year. Several items were collected and stored in evidence, including the remains. Due to the limited evidence, a cause of death was never determined.
Krusely was last known to be in California in 1963. It’s unclear how long he had been deceased when his remains were located.
Through extensive DNA testing by the California Department of Justice and Othram Inc., investigators were able to develop a DNA profile from the evidence. That information was then submitted to Ramapo College for Investigative Genetic Genealogy. Staff and students at Ramapo worked tirelessly to trace the genetic information and identify a living descendant of Krusely.
The Lordstown Police Department in Ohio assisted investigators in obtaining a DNA sample from Krusely’s descendant. The sample matched the DNA profile developed from the remains, allowing investigators to confirm that the remains belonged to George Krusely.
“The case was very challenging due to the Croatian and Yugoslavian ancestry of the unidentified,” said Cairenn Binder, director of Ramapo’s IGG Center. “Low representation in accessible DNA databases and limited availability of genealogy records in some populations can make our research more complex.”
The Placer County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to investigating cold cases and bringing answers to families, no matter how much time has passed.
“I applaud everyone involved in this case for seeing an opportunity to bring a family answers,” said Placer County Sheriff Wayne Woo. “No matter how many years pass, everyone deserves answers. The Placer County Cold Case Unit is proving that advances in technology can make a remarkable difference in solving cases that have gone cold. While answers can’t bring back a loved one, we hope this identification provides some peace and brings an end to the uncertainty that has lasted for decades.”
Advances in DNA testing and genetic genealogy are providing new hope in cases that have gone cold. Testing evidence can be expensive, however, and funding can be a significant barrier to pursuing new leads.
The Placer County Cold Case Foundation was created by community members who want to support families and help keep Placer County cold cases alive. One of the ways the foundation supports the Cold Case Investigations team is through financial assistance that helps offset the costs of submitting evidence for advanced DNA testing.
The Ramapo College IGG Center provides casework services, education programs, and conducts research to advance the field of investigative genetic genealogy.
To learn more about the Placer County Cold Case Foundation and its work supporting cold case investigations, visit: placercoldcase.org.
To learn more about the work of the Ramapo College IGG Center, visit: ramapo.edu/igg.
Hope never grows cold.
Source & photo: Placer County Sheriff's Office
