Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On August 3, 1987, Nickolas Medin reported his wife, Kay Josephine Medin, as a missing person to the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office. Nickolas reported he had left on a business trip and when he returned home Kay was gone. The Medin property was searched, and friends and family were contacted. Her doctor was contacted, who reported she had no serious medical issues. Kay was employed as a teacher at the Hyampom School. Her boss was contacted and reported Kay had been in good spirits. Kay’s purse and personal property were found at the residence. The Trinity County Sheriff’s Office listed her disappearance as suspicious.

On November 25, 1987, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) received a package in the US mail. The package contained skeletal remains and an anonymous letter. The letter gave directions leading to more human remains at a location near Ammon Ridge Road in Eastern Humboldt County. Humboldt County Sheriff’s Detectives responded to the location given in the letter and discovered additional human remains. These remains were later identified as Kay using dental records. A death certificate was issued for Kay in 1988, and she remained listed as a missing person as there was not a complete body recovery.

On February 16, 1993, the Fortuna Police Department contacted the HCSO to report that a man had found a partial human skull on the beach near Trinidad Head. The man later turned the remains into the Fortuna Police Department.

A DNA sample was obtained from the skull and entered into both the California Missing Person DNA Database and the National Unidentified Person DNA index. The DNA profile was searched against profiles from both missing persons and other human remains in the Combined DNA Index System. No match was ever made.

In 2024, the HCSO received Community Project Funding from Congressman Jared Huffman’s Office. The funding was to be used to clear up a backlog of unidentified human remains cases. The HCSO partnered with private lab Othram Inc.

A DNA extract from the remains was sent to Othram. Othram scientists used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the unknown remains. Once the profile was built, Othram’s in-house genealogy team used forensic genetic genealogy to produce investigative leads. In September 2024, the HCSO received a report from Othram indicating the skull may be that of Kay Medin. The report included genetic relatives, including a possible daughter. Investigators were able to locate the daughter and obtained a DNA sample from her. The California Department of Justice later compared the two DNA samples and confirmed the skull belonged to Kay Medin. Nickolas Medin died in August 2018.

The HCSO would like to thank Othram, Congressman Jared Huffman, and the California Department of Justice DNA lab for assisting in solving this case. The HCSO is continuing to work with Othram on several other unidentified remains investigations utilizing the latest DNA technology. This case is still open and considered a cold homicide.

If you have any information regarding this case, please contact Investigator Mike Fridley at 707-441-3024.