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REGIONAL: Skeletal remains found in park identified as those of woman reported missing in 2005
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Skeletal remains found in a Glenn County park in July have been identified through DNA analysis as belonging to a woman reported missing in 2005 in the Chico area.
The Glenn County Sheriff’s Office reported that on Wednesday it received confirmation from the California Department of Justice crime lab in Richmond that the remains were those of Heidi Joanne Ring, who was reported to the Chico Police Department as an at-risk missing person in June 2005.
At the time she went missing Ring was 37 years old, officials reported.
On July 27 a Glenn County Public Works crew discovered a human skull on the outer edge of a large pile of brush and tree trimmings being burned at the Ord Bend Park near the Sacramento River, as Lake County News has reported.
The Glenn County Sheriff’s Office sealed off the area and, for a time, closed access to the park. In the 48 hours after the skull was found, detectives processed the area, including sifting through earth and removing bones and other evidence, including jewelry.
Forensic experts initially had identified the remains as belonging to a Caucasian female, between 35 and 45 years of age, with the sheriff’s office reporting that it was investigating the case as a possible homicide.
After Ring’s remains were identified on Wednesday, Glenn County Sheriff Larry Jones spoke with Captain Lori MacPhail of the Chico Police Department, informing that department of the confirmed identification.
Glenn County Detective Greg Felton, accompanied by Sgt. Rob Merrifield of the Chico Police Department, traveled to Cottonwood on Wednesday and at approximately 4 p.m. notified Gretchen Ring, Heidi Ring’s mother, of the results of the DNA testing, Jones reported.
No cause of death has been determined in this case and it is unknown how, or when, Ring’s remains came to be at the Ord Bend Park, according to Jones.
“It is a sad detail to inform a parent of the loss of their child; and when that child has been missing for years, knowing parents and relatives are holding out hope their loved one will be located alive, the task is much more difficult,” Jones said. “However, there can be some relief and solace in knowing the loved one has been accounted for.”
Jones added, “Though the trail is very cold, law enforcement must do its best effort in attempting to find out what happened to Heidi Ring, and hopefully bring anyone responsible for her death to justice. The Glenn County Sheriff’s Office and the Chico Police Department will work together towards that end.”
Jones said the investigation is continuing, and anyone with information regarding the case of Heidi Ring is encouraged to contact the Chico Police Department, 530-897-4900 or the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office, 530-934-6441.