On March 11, 2013, a cleanup crew working near the Anderson-Cottonwood Irrigation District (ACID) canal behind the Department of Fish and Wildlife building near the Locust Street Bridge in Redding discovered a skull. They halted work and called in authorities, who elected to hold the scene until forensic anthropologists could assist with the recovery.
The following day, forensic anthropologists from California State University, Chico's Human Identification Lab (HIL) conducted a nearly complete recovery of the remains, along with several items of clothing and personal effects. An anthropological examination suggested the decedent was a middle-aged or older White female.
Soon after, a DNA sample from the remains was submitted to the California Department of Justice Missing and Unidentified Persons Section (MUPS) for upload into CODIS. Despite being entered into CODIS, no genetic matches were identified. The decedent was added to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) in the hopes that someone looking for their missing family member might recognize her, but no missing person matches were made. For more than a decade, the woman's identity remained unknown.
In 2023, the Shasta County Coroner's Office partnered with Othram to pursue advanced DNA analysis. Othram uses an in-house whole genome sequencing technique that can provide genetic information and possible familial associations even with a low yield sample. Analysis was completed, and the DNA profile was uploaded into the Family Tree DNA database. Results compared with genetic profiles of numerous family lineages indicated the distinct possibility the remains were Velma Lee, a woman who had never been reported missing and did not appear in any missing persons databases. The Othram report also included a list of possible living relatives to contact.
On July 23, 2025, contact was made with Velma Lee's much younger half-sister who recalled hearing Velma's name but had little knowledge of her life. Additional relatives were interviewed, including another half-sister and a niece, who provided information confirming Velma's identity and the names of her surviving biological children.
On July 25, 2025, a detective from the Redding Police Department contacted the decedent's son, who explained that after many years without contact, a private investigator was hired to search for Velma. When the private investigator was unable to provide proof of life after 2003-2004, the family assumed she had passed away, and she was later declared legally deceased. Despite the shock of learning that his mother's remains may have been located in Redding, the decedent's son provided an oral swab for direct DNA comparison with the decedent. That family reference buccal swab was then submitted by the Redding Police Department to Othram for confirmatory testing.
On Sept. 15, 2025, Othram issued a report officially identifying the decedent as Velma Louise Silva Lee of Napa, California. Her family has been officially notified of the results, and they are working with the Shasta County Coroner's Office to finally lay Velma to rest.
Every person is entitled to their name and identity. Restoring a name to the unidentified is a matter of dignity, justice, and human rights. This identification not only brings long-awaited answers to Velma's family but also reaffirms the commitment of our local and interstate forensic and investigative professionals to ensuring that no one remains nameless.
This case falls under the Project Doe Initiative within the Shasta County Coroner's Office, an interagency task force devoted to giving names back to long-term unidentified decedents. The identification of Velma Lee is a testament to the collaboration and cooperation between the Shasta. County Sheriff's Office, the Redding Police Department, and Othram. The Shasta County Coroner's Office extends its gratitude to these partners, along with the Chico State HIL, for their critical contributions in resolving this case.
The analysis and confirmatory tests for this case were performed by Othram at almost no cost to the Shasta County Sheriff's Office.
Republished courtesy of Shasta County Sheriff's Office