Victim identified in 1999 Yolo County cold case homicide using genetic genealogy

Sacramento-area law enforcement on Thursday identified the victim of a 1999 homicide in Yolo County using genetic genealogy, authorities said.

Gerron Gipson, who had ties to the region, was 29 years old at the time of his death on March 4, 1999, according to a Friday news release from the Yolo County district attorney.

Gipson’s remains were found on the bank of a slough near Clarksburg, and due to decomposition, he could not be identified at the time.

With the advancement in technology and genetic genealogy, a partial DNA sample was identified from the remains more than 20 years after they were found.

“While this important work cannot bring a loved one back, I hope the Gipson family can finally feel a sense of closure,” Yolo County Sheriff Tom Lopez said in the news release. “I appreciate the many, many hours of tireless work by our dedicated law enforcement professionals who made this possible.”

The district attorney’s office said members of the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office, the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office Cold Case Unit, the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office and the Department of Justice assisted in the investigation.

Anyone with information related to this homicide is asked to contact the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office at (530) 668-5280 or (530) 666-8282. Anonymous tips can be reported at (530) 668-5248.

This story was originally published June 4, 2022 at 3:52 PM.