Teenage boy whose burned remains were found in a California dump site is finally identified – 33 years after his death

A teenage boy whose remains were found at a California dump site has been identified, 33 years after his death, authorities said – but they say the circumstances of his death remain a mystery.

The partial remains, previously known as “Camarillo Teen 1993,” were found as people were cleaning up a dump site near Beardsley Road and Wright Road on August 30, 1993, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office said.

At the time, a medical examiner was able to determine that the remains belonged to a boy between the ages of 13 and 18, but had no other clues about who he was or how his remains ended up there.

In March 2025, officials submitted forensic evidence to Othram Labs, a private lab that helps law enforcement officials with cold cases. The advanced DNA testing yielded possible matches for relatives of the boy. A DNA sample identified him as Joseph Patrick Reardon, born on June 17, 1970, in Fresno.

Even with the identification, authorities say much remains unknown about Reardon, including how long his body was at the dump site. Authorities are asking anyone with knowledge of the teen to come forward.

“Despite this milestone, critical details surrounding Mr. Reardon's life and whereabouts remain unknown. The Cold Case Unit is actively seeking the public's help,” the sheriff’s department said in a statement.

According to California birth records viewed by SFGate, Reardon’s mother was a 16-year-old, and his father was 19 at the time of his birth. The teen couple had married just two months before he was born, and then were divorced a year later.

A cold case investigator from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office also told SFGate that Reardon was living in a group home in Oxnard in 1985 when he was about 16. That same year, he enrolled at Channel Islands High, but by the following year, he had been attending a different high school near Modesto.

Investigators said he also went by Joe Gilbreth, using the last name of his mother’s ex-boyfriend.

“If you knew Joseph Patrick Reardon, also known as Joe Gilbreth, even in passing, we urge you to come forward,” the sheriff’s office said in a press release.

Authorities have not said how long they believe Reardon’s body was at the site before it was discovered.

“Any detail, no matter how small, could be the key to bringing answers and closure to this case,” the sheriff’s office added. “Please contact the Cold Case Unit with any information you may have.”