A body discovered by PG&E workers in the forest near College of the Redwoods last September has been identified through DNA testing as the remains of Lucas Dale Blake-Williams, a man who was reported missing on October 9, 2015 by his girlfriend.

Blake-Williams

According to Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Specialist Samantha Karges, Blake-Williams’ cause and manner of death remain unknown, though examination of the remains did not indicate signs of foul play.

Blake-Williams was 37 years old when he disappeared. His girlfriend told sheriff’s deputies at the time that she and Blake-Williams had had an argument before he went to CR that day. He’d been dropped off by his mother’s boyfriend.

PG&E employees were working in a heavily wooded area near the north side of the campus when they found his remains.

Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office press release below: 

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office has identified remains discovered last year near the College of the Redwoods as that of missing person Lucas Dale Blake-Williams.

Blake-Williams was reported missing to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office on Oct. 9, 2015 by his girlfriend. He was last seen being dropped off at the College of the Redwoods’ Eureka campus. Blake-Williams was 37 at the time he went missing and was a McKinleyville resident.

On Sept. 26, 2017, at about 4:30 p.m., a PG&E wildlife biologist supervising a nearby PG&E project found skeletal remains and clothing items in the wooded area east of the College of the Redwoods main campus.

A DNA sample from the remains was submitted to the Department of Justice for comparison and returned as a positive match for Blake-Williams.

Blake-Williams’ cause and manner of death are undetermined at this time, however foul play is not suspected.