Woman found dead in the sea near Fort Bragg identified using family DNA

Using DNA testing, authorities were able to identify a Fort Bragg woman whose body was found off the coast of Mendocino County in late April.

Angela Geovanna Carrillo-Palomar, 29, was found dead south of Fort Bragg on April 26, about two weeks after she was reported missing to Fort Bragg police, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Tuesday.

Several organizations worked together to recover her body from the Pacific Ocean and bring it to Noyo Harbor by rescue boat. She had no wallet or identifying marks on her.

She was identified on July 3 after the Justice Department’s DNA lab in Richmond confirmed an ID match with a family member.

Carrillo-Palomar’s autopsy was performed on May 1. During the investigation, officials took a DNA sample and determined that she shared physical characteristics with the woman reported missing. Sheriff’s office officials requested DNA samples from the missing woman’s family and sent both samples to the lab for comparison.

Captain Quincy Cromer of the sheriff’s office said this method of identification is “standard procedure” when the person cannot be identified by their fingerprints or dental records. He added that he feels the results come back a little sooner than normal because it is a one-to-one match.

Family members who reported Carrillo-Palomar missing said she was last seen walking across the Noyo Bridge on April 1, Fort Bragg Police Chief Neil Cervenka said in an email Tuesday.

“After the initial report, officers attempted to locate her in many different ways, including searching areas where she frequents, the coastal areas of Fort Bragg, speaking to acquaintances, checking her bank card activity and attempting to electronically locate her phone,” Cervenka said. “Since it had been 13 days since her last visit, officers followed up on all leads.”

Fort Bragg Police are still investigating Carrillo-Palomar’s disappearance, and the medical examiner is still investigating the cause and manner of death.

The Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information related to the coroner’s investigation to call the dispatch center at 707-463-4086 or the anonymous non-urgent tip line at 707-234-2100.

Fort Bragg Police ask anyone with details regarding the missing person investigation to call Officer Gadge Farris at 707-961-2800, extension 229.

Reach staff writer Madison Smalstig at [email protected]. On X (Twitter) @madi.smals.