The Derrick Burton Missing Case gained worldwide attention after it was confirmed that the remains found in 1991 belonged to him.
Officials recently announced that the human remains discovered more than 30 years ago in Mentone have been identified as those of a 4-year-old boy who had been reported missing.
According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, a quail hunter found a human skull on October 27, 1991, in a remote area near Florida Street and Greenspot Road. Further investigation led to the discovery of a torn plastic trash bag containing what appeared to be children’s clothing.
The case went cold after an autopsy revealed that the skull belonged to a child aged between 4 and 8, but no additional remains were found at that time.
California Derrick Burton Missing Case
More than 30 years ago, Clark reported her four-year-old son missing to the San Bernardino Police Department, but he was never found. The child, born in 1987, disappeared without a trace.
Even after all those years, it was uncertain if the skull discovered on the mountainside belonged to Burton or not.
The circumstances surrounding the child’s death, his whereabouts, and who was responsible remained unknown. The Burton family never stopped searching for answers and seeking justice for their son.
It was determined that Clara’s DNA matched that of the skull, confirming it belonged to the missing child.
California Derrick Burton Missing Case Update: Is He Found Yet?
Recent DNA tests conducted by sheriff’s investigators have confirmed that the human remains found in San Bernardino County belong to a 4-year-old child who went missing over 30 years ago.
The child has been identified as Derrick Burton, whose bones were discovered on October 27, 1991, near Florida Street and Greenspot Road in Mentone. The confirmation of his identity was made through comprehensive DNA testing, as reported by sheriff’s officials on Thursday.
In an effort to identify the victim, the sheriff’s office sent DNA from the bones to Othram Inc., a sequencing and genomics lab, in the fall of 2022.
The lab determined that the remains had genetic connections to distant relatives who were found to be living in Houston, Texas, in February 2023.
Sheriff’s investigators reached out to these genetic relatives, who granted permission for further DNA testing. Upon contacting Clark, it was discovered that she had reported her missing child to the San Bernardino Police Department back in 1991.
After many years had passed, Clark’s DNA was collected and sent to a laboratory for analysis. The results confirmed a 100% paternal match between Clark and the child’s remains, now identified as Burton.
The case is currently being investigated as a homicide, according to sheriff’s officials.
Derrick Burton’s Death Cause
Authorities in Riverside County have verified that the 1991 remains discovered in the Mentone area belong to the missing 4-year-old Derrick Burton.
However, how Derrick Burton died was not confirmed by the authorities. His parents, however, are still searching for justice for their son even though the investigation is still underway.
It took a while to locate the person after a child’s clothing sample and a torn plastic trash bag with a decomposing odor were discovered and stored as evidence. Therefore, people are eager to find out who the offender is.
Although his death’s cause is unknown, we hope the culprit is found quickly.
His family is offered our sincere condolences, and we sincerely hope they can deal with the circumstance.
We pray to God to provide the young soul serenity in paradise so they can rest.
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