On August 30, 1993, partial human remains were discovered during the clean-up of a dump site located off Beardsley Road, a short distance north of Wright Road, in an unincorporated area of Ventura County outside the City of Camarillo. The Ventura County Medical Examiner responded to the scene and collected the remains for further analysis. The Medical Examiner confirmed the remains were human and sent them to be analyzed by an anthropologist. The partial human remains were determined to be the lower leg bones of a male subject and to be that of a male individual between the ages of 13 and 18 years old.
Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP128289.
In March 2025, the Ventura County Medical Examiner provided the Ventura County Sheriff's Office forensic evidence to submit to Othram Labs to determine if advanced DNA testing could aid in identifying the remains. Othram scientists successfully developed a DNA extract from the provided evidence and then used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the person. Othram then provided the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit with new genealogy leads to help with the identification.
The Cold Case Unit investigated the genealogy leads provided by Othram. The intricate nature of the work conducted by members of the Cold Case Unit in these types of cases creates a sense of ownership by the investigators. During this investigation members of the Cold Case Unit began to refer to the unidentified deceased male as “Camarillo Teen 1993”.
The Cold Case Unit went to work using Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (FIGG), conducted numerous interviews, telephone calls, and identified possible close relatives of “Camarillo Teen 1993”. Reference DNA samples were collected from potential relatives and compared to the DNA profile of “Camarillo Teen 1993” using KinSNP Rapid Relationship Testing.
Through diligent investigative work, the Cold Case Unit has made a significant breakthrough, the individual long known as "Camarillo Teen 1993" has been positively identified as Joseph Patrick Reardon, born June 17, 1970.
Despite this milestone, critical details surrounding Mr. Reardon's life and whereabouts remain unknown. The Cold Case Unit is actively seeking the public's help.
If you knew Joseph Patrick Reardon, also known as Joe Gilbreth, even in passing, we urge you to come forward. Any detail, no matter how small, could be the key to bringing answers and closure to this case. Please contact the Cold Case Unit with any information you may have.
Funding for Othram's casework costs associated with the advanced DNA testing in this case was provided by NamUs, a national program that assists the criminal justice community with the investigation and resolution of missing, unidentified, and unclaimed persons cases across the United States and its territories. NamUs is funded and administered by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and is managed through a contract with Research Triangle Institute International. We are grateful for the support of RTI, NamUs, and the NIJ. This case was worked as part of Othram's Project 525 initiative. Project 525, launched on May 23, 2024, in collaboration with RTI, which manages the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), aims to bring resolution to five hundred twenty-five juvenile cases published in NamUs.
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