NORTH COAST, Calif. – Authorities said human remains found Wednesday on the Sonoma State University campus belong to a missing Cotati man who is believed to have been the victim of foul play.
The remains of 18-year-old Kirk Kimberly were discovered by a university employee, with the identity confirmed on Thursday, according to Sgt. Spencer Crum of the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office.
Just after noon on Wednesday, the Sonoma State University Police Department was informed by the campus employee that they had discovered what appeared to be human remains in a shallow grave, Crum said.
Crum said the body – covered by dirt and debris – was located on the outskirts of the Sonoma State University campus in a wooded area about 200 yards west of parking lot “M.”
At the request of Sonoma State University Police, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office assumed lead role in the investigation and deputies and detectives responded to the scene, Crum said.
Due to the lack of daylight, Crum said detectives decided to cordon off the area and post officers to secure the crime scene overnight.
On Thursday morning, Sheriff’s Crime Scene and Violent Crimes detectives responded back to the university and began the task of processing the crime scene, Crum said.
At about 3 p.m. Thursday, the body was unearthed and taken to the Central Morgue Facility, Crum said. At that time authorities determined that the decedent was a male.
Crum said a forensic pathologist conducted an external examination of the body. Through fingerprints, investigators confirmed the identity of the body to be that of Kimberly, who was reported missing on Oct. 17. His family has been notified.
The pathologist also was able to determine the preliminary manner of death to be at the hands of another. As a result, Crum said the sheriff's office is now considering this to be a homicide investigation.
If anyone has information about Kimberly’s disappearance or has knowledge of this incident, they are asked to call Det. Horsman of the Sheriff’s Violent Crimes Unit at 707-565-2185.
Officials: Remains founds on Sonoma State campus are those of missing Cotati man
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