The six-decade mystery surrounding a California teenager who vanished in 1965 has finally been solved, after police identified his gunshot-riddled skull discovered roughly 2,000 miles away in Illinois.
A Disappearance and Decades of Silence
Ronald Joseph Cole was only 19 years old when he disappeared from Fillmore, California, in May 1965. Intriguingly, he was not officially reported missing until 18 years later, in 1983. According to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, his last known location was the 400 block of Foothill Drive in Fillmore.
From the outset, authorities and the volunteer group The Doe Project suspected foul play. Family members pointed the finger at Cole's half-brother, David La Fever, believing he was responsible for Ronald's disappearance. The Doe Project's investigation suggested the 19-year-old had travelled from San Diego to the Fillmore area, staying with family while looking for work.
Police took over the investigation due to these strong suspicions. However, they were stunned to find not a single piece of evidence of a crime, foul play, or even of Ronald himself. With no evidence to support charges, prime suspect David La Fever walked free. The case went cold but was never officially closed, lingering for decades even after La Fever died in Anchorage, Alaska, in August 2007.
The Breakthrough: A Skull and Advanced DNA
The long-stalled investigation saw a dramatic breakthrough in 2024. The Henry County, Illinois, Sheriff’s Office reopened its case concerning unidentified human remains found southeast of Geneseo way back in October 1966. Among those remains was a human skull with an obvious bullet hole, prompting police to reinvestigate the case as a homicide.
Illinois police turned to the DNA Doe Project, a non-profit specialising in identifying human remains. The group sent a sample to Astrea Forensics, a lab expert in extracting DNA from old or badly damaged remains. Using advanced forensic techniques, the team built a genetic profile and identified potential family members.
By May 2025, cold case investigators from Henry County and Ventura County were collaborating closely. The crucial revelation came on 10 January 2025, when the Henry County Sheriff’s Office learned the remains finally had a name: Ronald Joseph Cole.
An Enduring Mystery and Ongoing Investigation
While the victim's identity is now known, profound questions remain. How Cole’s remains ended up roughly 2,000 miles from where he was last seen in California is still a complete mystery. The investigation has now unequivocally become a homicide inquiry.
The Henry County Sheriff’s Office continues to lead this homicide investigation. No further details about potential suspects or motives have been released to the public at this time. The case stands as a powerful testament to how perseverance and cutting-edge forensic science can provide answers to families after even the most prolonged periods, bringing a measure of resolution to a tragedy that had been shrouded in uncertainty for 60 years.
