A partial skeletal remain recovered from Lake Berryessa in Napa County on Feb. 19 may be linked to Michael J. Ramirez, 38, who was reported missing after an alleged abduction from a Fairfield parking lot on Jan. 12, according to the Napa County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI.
Background
Ramirez, a construction supervisor from Vallejo, was last seen leaving a grocery store in Fairfield around 6 p.m. on Jan. 12. Witnesses reported a dark‑colored sedan following his vehicle before forcing him out and driving away. A family‑initiated search, bolstered by an Amber Alert, turned up no trace, and the case quickly escalated to the California Department of Justice and the FBI due to the suspicious circumstances.
The Investigation
On Feb. 19, a fisherman reported a floating bundle of clothing and a piece of wood near the north shoreline of Lake Berryessa. Napa County deputies secured the area and recovered a partial human skeleton. Forensic analysts from the FBI’s Sacramento field office performed DNA extraction and radiocarbon dating, which suggest the remains are less than a year old. Investigators are comparing the DNA profile to the missing‑person database for Ramirez, while also examining surveillance footage from nearby highways for any vehicle matching the description provided by witnesses.
Investigators also canvassed local boat launches and interviewed anglers who frequent the lake, hoping to identify any witnesses who may have seen a person or vehicle near the shoreline on the day the remains were discovered.
Key Takeaways
- A partial skeleton was recovered from Lake Berryessa on Feb. 19.
- The victim, Michael J. Ramirez, was reported missing after an alleged abduction on Jan. 12.
- DNA testing is underway; results could confirm whether the remains belong to Ramirez.
- The case involves multiple agencies: Napa County Sheriff’s Office, California DOJ, FBI, and local law‑enforcement.
What's Next
Officials expect the DNA comparison to be completed within the next two weeks. If the profile matches Ramirez, the investigation will shift from a missing‑person case to a homicide inquiry, and prosecutors may seek to charge the suspect(s) with kidnapping and murder. The sheriff’s office has asked the public to come forward with any additional information about the Jan. 12 incident, including dash‑cam footage or vehicle sightings.