Human remains that were found floating in the Alameda Marina in September 2008 have now been identified through advanced forensic DNA analysis as Esteban Pablo Pablo, a 20-year-old man who had last been seen alive in Alameda County in 2007, according to an Alameda County Sheriff’s Office report posted on social media.
It took nearly 17 years to finally determine the decedent’s identity. The partial skeletal remains of the then-unidentified individual were found with a white or gray sock and a size 8.5 Vision brand “skateboarder” type shoe, the Sheriff’s Department report stated.
In July 2011, additional skeletal remains were located floating in the estuary near the 2000 block of Embarcadero. DNA comparison at that time showed that both sets of skeletal remains belonged to the same individual, but despite extensive investigative efforts, the decedent’s identity remained unknown, the Sheriff’s Office stated.
In 2024, Deputy Karen Easling, Sheriff’s Technician Brandi Foscalina, and the California Department of Justice began working with Othram, a forensic technology company, to employ advanced forensic DNA analysis. Forensic evidence was sent to Othram, and Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing (FGGS) was used to build a comprehensive DNA profile suitable for forensic genetic genealogy.
FGGS can analyze degraded, contaminated, or trace DNA samples typically found at crime scenes, according to Othram. “It enables the creation of comprehensive DNA profiles, even from challenging samples, allowing for identification through forensic genetic genealogy. This technology is particularly useful in solving cold cases where traditional methods have been unsuccessful.”
Othram’s in-house forensic genetic genealogy team then used the profile in a genetic genealogy investigation to develop new leads in the case. With this information, investigators conducted follow-up inquiries that led them to potential relatives of the unidentified person. KinSNP Rapid Relationship Testing was then used to compare the comprehensive DNA profile to that of a potential relative. The KinSNP analysis helped confirm a genetic relationship, leading to the identification of the decedent.
In late June 2025, almost 17 years after the discovery of the unidentified remains in the Alameda Marina, the decedent was identified as Esteban Pablo Pablo, a 20-year-old man who was last seen alive in Alameda County in 2007. Since the identification, Deputy Easling and Sheriff’s Technician Foscalina have worked diligently to reunite Pablo with his family in Honduras.
The Sheriff’s office expressed gratitude to those who helped with this longstanding investigation.
“Thank you to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) for the funding of this advanced DNA testing and forensic genetic genealogy science. NamUs is 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 they thanked Pablo’s family, who provided the photos shown here “and allowed us to share his story. We hope to reunite them soon.”
