Human remains found in September 2021 in Willits have been identified through DNA analysis, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office reported this week.
The analysis, which was completed recently, established the remains as those of Thaddeus Keegan Bradley, 27, from San Antonio, Texas.
On Sept. 20, 2021 the MCSO was notified of the presence of human remains underneath Underpass Road at the intersection of North Highway 101 in Willits.
A motorist who was traveling through Mendocino County had stopped at the location and located the human remains while walking their dog, the MCSO stated.
Sheriff’s detectives were summoned to the scene and a coroner’s investigation was initiated to determine the identity of the human remains and the cause/manner of death.
Detectives collected a DNA sample from the human remains and submitted the sample to the California Department of Justice Jan Bashinski Laboratory in Richmond, California.
On April 11, the Sheriff’s Office was notified by the California Department of Justice that a DNA match had been made on the submission.
The DNA analysis identified the human remains as being that of Bradley, who had been living a transient lifestyle prior to death. His mother reported Bradley missing to the Arcata Police Department in July 2022.
Familial DNA samples were obtained during that time and entered into the National Combined Missing and Unidentified System (NAMUS) by the Arcata Police Department.
On April 11, after official identification of Bradley’s remains, the coroner’s investigation was concluded with his death being classified as an accidental death due to acute methamphetamine toxicity.
