Strawberry, CA…Today the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Detectives were able to positively identify the remains that were discovered on April 28th on Old Strawberry Road as belonging to 55 year old Tuolumne County resident, Denise Marie Gadd.

Denise was reported as a missing person to the Sonora Police Department on 8/16/2015 by a concerned friend who had not heard from her in several weeks. While conducting follow up investigation on the discovery of the remains, detectives were able to determine that a female transient had been staying in the area of Old Strawberry Road around the time Denise had been reported missing. Detectives spoke with several residents in the area and confirmed the female transient who had been staying in the area was in fact Denise. The last known time she had been seen in the area by residents was around the time she was reported missing to the Sonora Police Department.

Today, detectives were finally able to locate medical records that included dental images that were used to positively identify the located remains as belonging to Denise Gadd. No evidence has been located during the investigation to suggest a cause of death. The case remains open as a death investigation and no further information will be released at this time.

Her family has been notified and we would like to express our deepest condolences to Denise’s family for their loss.

Thank you to the community for remaining patient and respectful to her family and friends during the identification process.