Skull found near Roseville in 1986 ID’d as Sacramento woman missing since 1982
Nearly four decades after a fragment of a human skull was discovered along Dry Creek in unincorporated Roseville, authorities have identified the remains as a Sacramento woman who had been missing since 1982.
The Placer County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the identification of Marjorie Linehan’s remains this week following DNA testing conducted by the California Department of Justice. Linehan, 49 at the time of her disappearance, was reported missing in Sacramento County on Oct. 1, 1982.
The breakthrough followed refreshed cold case efforts by deputies and a new Placer County nonprofit group focused on utilizing modern, but expensive, forensic tools.
“Our thoughts are with the family, and we hope this long-awaited identification offers them peace,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
Body found during 1986 storms
The remains were first recovered on Feb. 19, 1986, when a partial human skull was found near Booth Road and the Dry Creek Waste Water Plant. For years, the remains went without a name, according to deputies.
News reports from the time show the recovery came as emergency personnel were searching for victims after flooding caused Dry Creek to jump its banks that day. Torrential rains and the flood-prone creek were a recipe for disaster as swift currents overwhelmed roadways that cross Dry Creek, including Riverside Avenue, tossing vehicles and debris into the waterway.
The storm, dubbed “the fiercest this season,” triggered the collapse of the coffer dam on the American River near Auburn, caused mudslides on Interstate 80 and Highway 50, spun a tornado in Orangevale and triggered the evacuation of hundreds of families from Roseville to Old Foothill Farms.
During the deluge that lasted until mid-February that year, at least 13 people were killed and more than $400 million in damage was caused by the storms, which would be $1.1 billion in today’s dollars.
Foundation to solve cold cases
Although the cause of death could not be determined, investigators said there was no evidence of foul play at the time of her disappearance. Only a portion of her skull was recovered.
Family members described Linehan as an avid skier, a talented artist and a devoted mother. “Though decades have passed, her memory lives on in the lives of those who knew and loved her,” said the Sheriff’s Office.
The identification comes weeks after the Sheriff’s Office launched the Placer County Cold Case Foundation, a nonprofit formed to support the resolution of unsolved cases through DNA testing and forensic analysis.
“The Placer County Cold Case Foundation will make a tangible difference in our ability to pursue justice and provide closure,” said Sheriff Wayne Woo in a November announcement. “Every case represents a person, a family and a community still waiting for answers.”
The foundation also was created to help offset the significant costs of advancing such difficult investigations. Depending on the complexity of a case, according to the Sheriff’s Office, testing expenses can reach upwards of $50,000 per case.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Placer County has more than 80 cold cases — including homicides, missing persons and unidentified remains — awaiting answers.
Those looking to learn more or contribute to the nonprofit efforts are encouraged to visit the foundation’s website, placercoldcase.org.
