A 25-year-old missing persons case from Doyle, California, has been solved, reuniting a family with their long-lost loved one.
On November 22, 2024, a woman contacted the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office with a possible lead on her brother, who vanished in 1999. She had seen an article in USA Today from April 2024, featuring a photo of a non-verbal man in a Los Angeles hospital, whom she believed to be her missing sibling.
Deputy Derek Kennemore followed up on the lead, contacting the hospital mentioned in the article. He learned the man had been transferred to another Los Angeles facility in July 2024. The second hospital confirmed they were caring for a non-verbal, unidentified man matching the missing brother’s description.
Deputy Kennemore sought help from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Missing Persons Unit. An LAPD detective fingerprinted the man and confirmed he was the same individual reported missing from Doyle 25 years ago.
Deputy Kennemore delivered the news to the woman, who expressed relief after years of uncertainty. Plans for the family’s reunion are underway, though names remain private.
The Lassen County Sheriff’s Office commended Deputy Kennemore’s persistence and thanked the LAPD for their assistance in solving the case.
