The Hart Family: Hannah, Abigail, Ciera, Jeremiah, Jennifer, Devonte, Markis and Sarah | File photo courtesy MSCO.

From the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office:

On 03-26-2018 around 4:15 PM the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of Juan Creek and North Highway 1, just north of the Town of Westport in Mendocino County to the report of a traffic collision resulting in five fatalities. 

These persons were later identified as all belonging to the Hart Family; Jennifer Hart (38 years of age), Sarah Hart (38 years of age), Markis Hart (19 years of age), Jeremiah Hart (14 years of age), and Abigail Hart (14 years of age). 

As a result of this investigation three other family members were listed as missing persons; Devonte Hart (15 years of age), Hannah Hart (16 years of age) and Ciera Hart (12 years of age). 

An extensive investigation was initiated into the cause of the collision, the location of the three missing persons, and the cause and manner of death of the decedents. 

This investigation has been an ongoing effort with the cooperating investigatory agencies being; The Clark County Washington Sheriff’s Office, the California Highway Patrol, and the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office. 

On 04-07-2018 around 1:56 PM human remains were again discovered on the beach just north of where the original collision occurred. 

On 04-17-2018 the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office was notified the decedent had been identified.  The remains were identified via DNA testing by the California Department of Justice Bureau of Forensic Services Laboratory (DOJ LAB).  These remains were positively identified as belonging to Ciera Rose Hart (12 years of age).

On 05-09-2018 the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office again responded to this area after a citizen reported partial human remains found on the beach. 

These remains consisted of a partial foot located inside a shoe and attached to a pair of jeans. The jeans and shoe appeared consistent with those that would fit a smaller sized person. 

The remains were forwarded the to the DOJ LAB to see if a DNA profile could be determined and if so, could the remains be identified as one of the two remaining missing children, Devonte Hart or Hannah Hart.  

On 06-08-2018 the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office was notified the results of the testing by the DOJ LAB were inconclusive and the remains could not be positively identified. 

The DOJ LAB personnel requested additional samples from known family members so additional testing could be conducted.

In October of 2018 a woman who identified herself as the mother of Markis, Abigail, and Hannah Hart contacted the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office and indicated she had heard of this incident via a family member. 

She was fully cooperative in this investigation and with the assistance of Detectives of the Mobile Alabama Police Department, a DNA sample was obtained from this person and forwarded to the DOJ LAB for comparison testing.

On 01-08-2019 the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office received word from the DOJ LAB that the additional DNA test results showed a positive identification of the partial remains found on 05-09-2018 as belonging to Hannah Hart.

Devonte Hart is still listed as a missing person with the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office.  

It is believed, the most likely scenario is that he too perished in this incident but the case remains open and active. 

The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office is poised to follow up any viable investigative lead but has not received any indication of Devonte being located elsewhere. 

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