Sandoval County Sheriff's Office: 83% of unidentified human remains identified in past 18 months; three cases detailed

At a news briefing, an official with the Sandoval County Sheriff's Office said investigators have identified "83 percent of unidentified human remains" in the past 18 months and described three cases that were solved or clarified using forensic science and genetic genealogy.

County Manager Wayne Johnson, joined by representatives from the Albuquerque and Corrales police departments, emphasized interagency collaboration. "Teamwork is what this is all about," Johnson said, noting the sheriff hired an experienced investigator two years ago to focus on cold cases.

Detective Donald Schooning, who introduced himself as a detective for the Sandoval County Sheriff's Office, gave a case-by-case account. He said traditional investigative methods had been exhausted in many cold files and credited advances in forensic science, specialized labs and dedicated detective time for recent identifications. "These cases become dormant because traditional investigative methods have been exhausted," Schooning said.

Schooning described three individual outcomes.

- Stephen Overton: Hikers found skeletal remains on Dec. 31, 2025, near Forest Loop Road in Placitas. Investigators recovered a Smith's grocery rewards card that matched a rewards account registered to Stephen Overton, who had been reported missing to Albuquerque police on Aug. 23, 2022. Sandoval County personnel and the Office of the Medical Investigator used dental records to confirm the identification; Schooning said the death is not believed to be suspicious and the family was notified.

- Hector Ramirez Jr.: Remains discovered Oct. 24, 2025, in a remote area east of the Sandia Man Caves were DNA-matched to Ramirez through the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator and an external laboratory partnership. Schooning said Ramirez had prior contacts across New Mexico and likely died of exposure; OMI listed cause and manner as undetermined. Ramirez had not previously been reported as missing, Schooning said.

- Jeanette Dela Cruz: Remains found Nov. 15, 1999, near U.S. Route 550 were positively identified in June 2025 after testing by Othram Labs. Schooning said investigators conducted extensive interviews, including travel to Ohio, and cited earlier statements by two men, Fred Granville and Derek L. Smith, that Schooning said acknowledged a fatal overdose and the disposal of the body. Schooning said the 13th Judicial District Attorney's Office reviewed the case and declined prosecution of Granville and Smith because of insufficient evidence.

Schooning also updated two previously publicized matters: a 2001 suspicious-death case involving Kimo Mahi and a 2023 case referred to as the Sandoval STAR case. Both remain open; Schooning said progress has been made on the Sandoval STAR matter and announced a future joint FBI media event in early spring.

During a question-and-answer period, Schooning said investigators prioritize cases based on available evidence, leads and resources, and that funding for DNA testing can come from a variety of sources. He credited partners and specialized laboratories for producing investigative leads and said that identifying a person brings closure for families: "He has some closure. He was able to bring his daughter home and bury her with her grandmother," Schooning said of one family's reaction.

The office said one UHR case in its inventory remained unresolved at the time of the briefing. Schooning closed by thanking attendees and said an update on the Sandoval STAR case should come within 30 to 60 days or in early spring.