DNA helps Sonoma Co. Sheriff ID 1967 homicide victim

DNA technology has provided inroads into a cold case out of Sonoma County stemming from the 1960s, according to the Sheriff's Office this week.

The decomposed remains of a woman were found in February 1967 down a steep cliff off state Highway 1, just north of Jenner. Then known only as Jane Doe, the woman's cause of death was listed as multiple fractures to her skull and ribs. After attempts to identify her led nowhere, Doe's remains were laid to rest at the County of Sonoma Cemetery.

Fast-forward to 2009, and Doe's remains were exhumed and examined by San Francisco State University anthropology professor Mark Griffin. Griffin determined that she was a white woman, between 40 and 46 years old, and was the victim of a homicide.

In early 2023, a lab examined Doe's DNA and identified her as Lillian Marie Cardenas, who was born in 1928 and was last known to have lived in San Francisco.
According to the Sheriff's Office, Cardenas' surviving family had been estranged from her prior to her death.

"The Sheriff's Office is looking for any information the public may have about Lillian's life, or death, to help piece together what happened to her," said the department on Facebook.

Anyone who may have information helpful to this case is encouraged to contact the cold case unit at (707) 565-2727 or by email at sheriff-coldcase@sonoma-county.org.

The Sheriff's Office said it has continued to have success with its DNA Doe Project, which is being undertaken with help from the California Department of Justice and Othram, Inc., which is a pilot program under the DOJ who has taken ten cases from the Sheriff's Office.

"Lillian will hopefully be the first of many which we will be able to identify," said the department.