Remains of Missing Man Brian Edward Jones Finally Identified 40 Years After He Vanished — Details

After four decades of uncertainty, the San Mateo County Coroner’s Office has officially identified the remains of Brian Edward Jones, a 20-year-old man who went missing from San Jose, California, in December 1984.

According to authorities, partial human remains discovered on April 15, 1985, in an undeveloped part of Menlo Park were positively identified on April 22, 2025, as belonging to Jones.

The identification was made using advanced DNA technology, marking the end of a 40-year mystery. On May 20, 2025, Jones’ legal next of kin was formally notified of the discovery by the Coroner’s Office.

The initial DNA analysis began on October 26, 2023. In partnership with Cypress Lawn Funeral Home, the Coroner’s Office exhumed the remains and submitted samples to the California Department of Justice.

A partial short tandem repeat DNA profile was developed and entered into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). This effort eventually revealed a potential biological connection to a missing person’s report filed in 2016.

Further analysis included Y-chromosome DNA testing, which strengthened the familial match. As stated in an official release, the progress was made possible due to improvements in forensic science.

Jones was reported missing by his family after he was last seen in December 1984. Records from the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office indicate he was last officially seen on January 7, 1985.

At the time, Jones was described as being emotionally distressed due to a recent breakup and had made concerning statements about intending to jump off a bridge.

Weeks after his disappearance, unidentified human remains were found in Menlo Park. However, due to time limitations, a positive identification was not made until this year.

Coroner Robert Foucrault commented on the department’s longstanding mission to resolve cold cases and provide closure to families.

“Records back then weren’t well documented so it takes a lot of work for my staff to do a lot of research and backtracking,” he said. “As technology gets better, we’re able to get these folks identified.”

Foucrault added, “I think for the families, it’s relief. For my staff that worked on it, it’s a job well done because they’ve put closure on a case for someone’s loved one that’s been missing for a long time.”

While the identity has been confirmed, authorities have not determined the cause of Jones’ death. It remains unclear if foul play was involved, and officials have not confirmed whether an active investigation has been reopened into the circumstances surrounding his disappearance and death.

While one family finally received answers after decades of silence, another began facing a painful new chapter. Last month, a mother of two disappeared after her shift at a bar in downtown Mississippi — now, a murder charge has been filed.

Authorities have confirmed the death of 38-year-old Joyce Gomez, who was reported missing on Friday, April 25, 2025. Her body was found on Sunday, April 27, near W Wittman Road by the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office.

The discovery followed an urgent search led by the Pass Christian Police Department, which began investigating after Gomez failed to return home. Gomez was last seen late Friday night around 10:52 p.m. in the 100 block of Main Street in downtown Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.

Hours earlier, she had been working at The Whiskey Bar in downtown Pass Christian. According to her coworker Chris Langer, she finished her shift and was seen getting into a truck with a man later identified as her ex-boyfriend, Brett Huntley Keel.

“I worked with Joyce Friday night at The Whiskey Bar in the Pass. She clocked out and then shortly thereafter left the bar with a patron we know,” Langer wrote in a Facebook post dated April 27.

“It seems they went to the Bay afterwards, but she did not return home. If you saw her after 10:52 pm please let the police know. She has two little kids that are missing their mom and have no idea what is going on,” he concluded.

Police confirmed that Keel and Gomez had previously been in a relationship. After she failed to come home to her two children and elderly father, friends and coworkers grew concerned.

During a video interview with WLOX News, Langer stated, “I kind of had a feeling that she was gone. Typically, a mother of two doesn’t just up and disappear — doesn’t decide to leave on their own volition. Yes, it does happen occasionally, but usually something else has happened. If she didn’t go home with her dad there and her two kids, then it was not her choice.”

The Pass Christian Police Department formally announced Gomez’s disappearance on Saturday, April 26, and began coordinating efforts with the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department.

That same day, two photos of Gomez were shared with the public. In one image, she was smiling with her long, dark hair tied in a high ponytail. In the second, she was seen wearing a white top, her hair loose, with a lighthearted star filter across her face.

At approximately 11:25 a.m. on April 27, officers found Gomez deceased near W Wittman Road. Police stated that the investigation had led them to suspect foul play, and evidence eventually revealed the location of her body.

The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office and the Mississippi Department of Public Safety assisted with the operation. Law enforcement stressed that this remains an active and ongoing investigation.

On Monday, April 28, 2025, the Pass Christian Police Department arrested 38-year-old Keel in connection with Gomez’s death. He was charged with first-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence.

Harrison County Justice Court Judge Diane Ladner set his bond at $1,500,000. According to a report from WLBT 3 On Your Side, the coroner said her cause of death was not immediately apparent, but that it did not appear she ended up at the scene on her own.

Law enforcement continues to ask for help from the public. Anyone with information is urged to contact Captain Ryan Henry at (228) 363-6038 or the Mississippi Coast Crime Stoppers at 877-787-5898.

The Pass Christian Police Department offered condolences to the family and thanked all involved agencies for their assistance. Chief of Police Daren Freeman also requested that people continue praying for those affected.

Tributes for Gomez have poured in online. Desiree Sprunger shared a heartfelt message on Facebook, “She will always be remembered for her beautiful personality and heart! Her infectious smile and the way she treated others, the love she showed was like very few nowadays. We lost a good one. My heart breaks for her family.. especially her son, age 8, and daughter, age 6. Please say a prayer of peace for all of her family and friends.”

The death of Gomez has deeply impacted her community. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities remain focused on bringing justice and closure to her loved ones.