At a Glance
- A skull found in Illinois in 1966 has been identified as Ronald Joseph Cole, missing since 1965
- Cole was reported missing in 1983-18 years after he was last seen at age 19
- Family suspected his half-brother David La Fever, who died in 2007, was involved
- Why it matters: The identification revives a 60-year-old homicide investigation now under Illinois jurisdiction
A California teenager who disappeared in 1965 has been identified 60 years later from a skull found in Illinois with a bullet hole.
Ronald Joseph Cole vanished at age 19, but his family did not report him missing until October 25, 1983. Investigators quickly learned the last confirmed sighting dated back nearly two decades.
The Disappearance
Family members told the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office they believed foul play was involved.
They pointed to Cole’s half-brother, David La Fever, as the likely suspect.
- No physical evidence emerged
- La Fever was never charged
- The case stayed open for decades
La Fever died in Alaska in 2007 without facing charges.
Breakthrough in Illinois
In 2024, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office reopened a cold case involving a human skull discovered in 1966 near Geneseo, Illinois.
The skull had a single bullet hole and the death was ruled a homicide.
Working with the DNA Doe Project, Illinois investigators built a potential family tree.
By May 2025, the Ventura County Cold Case Unit joined the effort, sharing notes from Cole’s missing-person file.
Side-by-side comparisons pointed to a match.
DNA Confirmation
On January 10, 2026, DNA testing confirmed the skull belonged to Cole.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office announced the findings five days later.
Because the remains were found inside Illinois borders, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office now leads the homicide probe.
Authorities have not disclosed how they believe Cole traveled from California to Illinois or whether he was killed at the discovery site.
Case Status
| Agency | Role |
|---|---|
| Henry County Sheriff’s Office, Illinois | Primary homicide investigation |
| Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, California | Original missing-person case |
| DNA Doe Project | Genetic genealogy |
No additional suspects have been named publicly.
Investigators continue to seek tips on Cole’s final days and how his remains ended up 1,700 miles from where he was last seen.
Anyone with information can contact either sheriff’s office.
Key Takeaways
- A 1966 Illinois homicide victim has been identified as Ronald Joseph Cole
- Cole disappeared from California in 1965 at age 19
- His family reported him missing in 1983 and suspected his half-brother
- Modern DNA testing solved the 60-year mystery
