Full Notification

MORAGA, CA – On March 16, 2017, Moraga Police received a report that skeletal remains had been located by a hiker. Officers responded to the open space area east of Rheem Blvd. and west of S. Lucille Lane and located the remains. The remains were recovered and turned over to the Contra Costa County Coroner’s office for determination of cause of death and identification of the remains.

An autopsy was conducted and the cause of death was undetermined, although the forensic pathologist did not locate any signs of foul play. A DNA sample was recovered from the remains and analyzed by the California Department of Justice DNA Laboratory in Richmond. Through this analysis, the skeletal remains were identified as Richard Allen Saimons, who was reported to the Lafayette Police as a missing person on August 2, 1998. Saimons had lived in Lafayette and left his home on the afternoon of August 2, 1998, but never returned. Saimons was 37-years-old when he was reported missing.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Moraga Police Lt. Brian South at 925-888-7052 or the Lafayette Police at (925) 284-5010.