69-year-old went missing in California forest. His remains were found 15 years later

Remains found in a California forest in 2020 have been identified as those of a man missing for 15 years, authorities said.

David Virgil Neily, 69, was last seen in April 2006 in Albion in Mendocino County, sheriff’s officials said in a release. He was reported missing in July 2006.

His vehicle and some of his belongings were found on property he owned near Westport, about 33 miles away, but nothing further about his fate could be found.

In May 2020, a private forester reported finding human remains near Branscomb, a few miles from where Neily’s vehicle was found, sheriff’s officials said.

Several agencies investigated the remains, finding no evidence of trauma, until DNA tests identified the remains as those of Neily in October. An investigation into his disappearance and death remains open.

Sheriff’s officials ask that anyone with information on Neily’s disappearance contact detective Alex Johnston at 707-463-4086 or the sheriff’s office tip line at 707-234-2100.

This story was originally published November 14, 2021 at 8:18 AM with the headline "69-year-old went missing in California forest. His remains were found 15 years later."