Obituaries
Skeletal Remains Found in Napa County Identified
The bones were discovered in March of this year by a work crew.
NAPA, CA — Human remains that were found in northern Napa County in March are those of two Santa Rosa brothers who disappeared in June 2014, a Napa County Sheriff's captain said.
The sheriff's office identified the men as Mario Avendano, 31, and Florentino Avendano, 45. DNA in the skeletal remains matched the DNA of the brothers' two sisters, Capt. Keith Behlmer said.
The brothers' family reported them missing in January 2015.
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Workers in the area of a concrete project in a rural development spotted a human skull as they drove on Butts Canyon Road on March 9 this year. The area was burned during the 10-day, 4,300-acre Butts Canyon fire
that started July 1, 2014 off Butts Canyon Road northwest of Lake Berryessa.
Several bones from two individuals were taken to an anthropologist in Chico, and it was determined they were those of two males, the sheriff's office said.
Find out what's happening in Napa Valleyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Santa Rosa police investigated the missing person's case when they received information the brothers had been dropped off in the area where the fire later occurred.
Behlmer said investigators can't say if the brothers were working at a marijuana grow in the area where clandestine grows are prevalent.
"They were found in the middle of the fire," Behlmer said.
— Bay City News; Image via Shutterstock
