California boy, 4, whose remains were found in 1991 in San Bernardino County is now ID'd
Sheriff’s investigators said recent DNA tests confirm that human remains found in San Bernardino County are of a 4-year-old boy who went missing over 30 years ago.
Sheriff’s officials on Thursday reported that extensive DNA testing revealed the young boy was Derrick Burton, whose remains were found on Oct. 27, 1991 near Florida Street and Greenspot Road in Mentone.
During that time, a quail hunter in a rural area of Mentone found the remains, which included a human skull, without teeth and mandible, sheriff’s officials said.
Investigators with the sheriff’s Homicide Detail searched the area for more human remains but none were located.
A torn plastic trash bag with a decomposition odor and child’s clothing were located and kept for evidence.
At that time, authorities were not able to identify the remains and had no other leads.
The search was aided by cadaver detection dogs, who investigators, at that time, said previously located the bones of 3-year-old Alicia Robins, who was murdered by foster father, Craig Armstrong.
On Nov. 7, 1991, an autopsy was performed, and the coroner determined the human skull found in Mentone belonged to a child between 4 and 8 years old. The cause of death was undetermined. No other leads were available, and the case went cold, authorities said.
DNA tests help identify relatives in Houston, boy's mother
In the fall of 2022, the sheriff's office sent DNA from the remains to the sequencing and genomics laboratory, Othram Inc., for a genealogy investigation in hopes of identifying the victim.
In February 2023, Othram revealed the remains had distant genetic relatives residing in Houston, Texas.
The sheriff’s investigators contacted the genetic relatives and received consent for their DNA to do more testing.
With the assistance of FBI offices in Riverside and Houston, Patricia Clark was identified as the boy’s mother, sheriff’s officials said.
Authorities contacted Clark and learned she reported her child missing to the San Bernardino Police Department in 1991.
Decades later, Clark’s DNA was obtained and sent to a DNA testing company, which revealed Clark was a 100% parental match to the human remains of the child, now known to be Burton.
Homicide officials are now investigating, sheriff’s officials said.
Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Detective Edward Hernandez with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Specialized Investigations Division – Homicide Detail, Cold Case Team at 909-890-4904. Callers can remain anonymous by contacting We-Tip at 800-78CRIME or wetip.com.
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: DNA tests IDs boy missing over 30 years ago in San Bernardino County
