Sonora, CA…On Thursday, August 29th, 2024, at about 7:15 in the evening, TCSO received a report of human remains located by a dirt biker within the Stanislaus River Canyon near the area of Keltz Mine Road. Deputies with the assistance of TCSO Search and Rescue (SAR) utilized a side-by-side to access the area and hiked in. Due to the steep terrain and darkness causing difficulty accessing the scene, they left the area with plans to return the following morning.

On Friday, TCSO SAR assisted Investigations Division Detectives in accessing the area. Detectives confirmed the remains were human, collected them and processed the scene. Remains consisted of several human bones with some clothing and electronics. Right now, Detectives are analyzing all evidence found at the scene and pursuing all forensic investigative leads to positively identify the remains.

The location of the remains was within 3 miles of the location of a truck found and processed by United States Forest Service Law Enforcement (USFS) on Forest Road 3N11 on June 21st, 2024. The truck was associated with missing persons Ronnie Henley and Ronnie Duncan. Henley was reported missing to Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office by Henley’s friend April 24th, 2024, and reportedly last seen at the end of March 2024 when he left in his truck with Duncan to travel to a property he bought in Jupiter.

Detectives are actively following up on any connections between the missing persons case and the location of the human remains. Follow up efforts being planned include a search of the area utilizing Search and Rescue (SAR) resources while detectives continue to actively pursue all available investigative leads.

We will keep our community updated on the progress of this case and provide updates as able.