Boulder Creek — A man known simply as “John Doe” and “Huck” for the past 24 years was found dead in the Santa Cruz Mountains more than 24 years ago.

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Services team is working with the California Department of Justice Jan Bacsinszki DNA Lab, Osram, the National Missing Persons System, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Undercover Printing Unit to develop forensic genetic genealogy technology. I am using it. The man’s identity as Eric P. Cupo, officials announced in a social media post this week.

When Cupo was 22, his body was dumped on the steep Bear Creek Road embankment about eight miles (8 miles) north of downtown Boulder Creek. His body, wrapped in a tarp, was found at least a month later by a tourist who had parked at the summit gathering place on December 27, 1998. Impossible at the time. He was described at the time as having a long ponytail and wearing baggy “skater-style” clothing and a black beaded necklace.

A subsequent investigation by his agent found that Cupo had lost contact with his adoptive family after moving to several locations around the country. According to sources, Cupo was born in California and adopted by a family in Philadelphia. Detectives were unsure when he made the final move back to California. Cupo’s adoption and biological relatives have been notified, “We thank the Sheriff’s Department for their dedicated and tireless investigation to identify Eric Cupo and resolve his whereabouts. The sheriff’s office posted. The family does not want to be contacted as they mourn their loss.

Minus ID, Criminal Pursuit Murderer

Despite Cupo’s identity being unknown, detectives were able to trace evidence to an abandoned house on Creek Drive 12 miles away. Three residents, including James “Eddie Munster” Dotson and Kimberly “Rush” Laboret, and Jeremy “Storm” Towner, also known as Jeremy Michael Kraft, were arrested and charged with murder. Each of the three did not contest the charges to avoid trial. Labore and Dotson were charged with additional charges of being involved in the murder of Watsonville businessman Gaylord “Kelly” Chilcote, 58, which is believed to have occurred two weeks after Cupo’s murder. rice field.

Towner and a friend asked Cupo and his girlfriend, “Anna,” to drive from downtown Santa Cruz to Boulder Creek, according to prosecutor’s filings. They said they were trying to sell it. However, later that night, while the others were asleep, Towner lured Capo into another room, where the trio beat him with baseball bats and telescopes and slit his throat. A cinder block was dropped on the head, cleaned up, and the body removed from the premises. The next morning, the three told others that Cupo had taken the bus back to Santa Cruz.