REDDING, Calif. — Human remains discovered on an island in the Sacramento River more than three decades ago have been identified as those of a 20-year-old Native American man who disappeared in 1988.
The remains were recently identified as James Homer Wright, bringing answers to a case that had remained unresolved for nearly 38 years.
Wright’s mother, Florence Moran, said her son’s remains were found in 1990 on a small island in the Sacramento River between Redding and Anderson. At the time, authorities were unable to identify him, and the remains were listed as John Doe.
The case remained unsolved for decades until DNA testing helped investigators identify Wright.
Moran said she never stopped hoping to learn what happened to her son.
“I didn’t want to give up because I just wanted that closure,” Moran said. “I said, I want to bring my son home before I die.”
Wright’s remains have now been returned to his family.
Moran said the years without answers were especially difficult around her son’s birthday, Aug. 2.
“I would go out and cry because I just wanted my son to come home,” she said. “I wanted to bring him home.”
Although the identification has provided long-awaited answers, Moran said the loss will continue to take time to process.
“Now I have the closure. Now I’m going to have to finish this. and still do healing and healing in my heart, healing in my soul.”
The Redding Police Department and Shasta County Sheriff’s Office worked together on the case, using DNA testing to identify Wright and return his remains to his family.
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