Accident – Death – Obituary News :
The discovery of a long-lost homicide victim in the Nevada desert
A recent breakthrough in a decades-old case has shed light on a tragic incident that occurred more than 40 years ago in the Nevada desert. The body of a homicide victim found in the remote desert landscape has finally been identified as Albert Matas, a California man from Commerce.
The mysterious discovery
The story dates back to October 1980 when Nye County Sheriff’s deputies stumbled upon the remains of an unknown adult male on a desolate dirt road, approximately a mile east of Interstate 95 and about 60 miles south of Tonopah, Nev. The man had suffered multiple gunshot wounds, indicating that he was a victim of foul play.
The search for answers
Despite extensive efforts by Nevada State Police to identify the man through dental records, fingerprints, and various investigative techniques, the case remained unsolved for decades. The victim’s mitochondrial DNA was entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, but no leads were forthcoming.
A breakthrough in DNA testing
After years of fruitless investigation, the FBI, Nevada State Police, and NamUS enlisted the help of Othram, a company specializing in forensic genealogy, to conduct advanced DNA testing on the remains of the unidentified man. In a surprising turn of events, the man was finally identified as Albert Matas in December 2023.
Ongoing investigation
Authorities have not disclosed why the victim’s name was only released now, but the investigation into his death is ongoing. Anyone with information related to the case has been urged to contact the Nevada State Police at 775-684-7456.
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