Accident – Death – Obituary News :

Major Breakthrough: Kern County Coroner’s Office Identifies Cold Case Victim as Ada Beth Kaplan

ARVIN, CA – In a significant breakthrough, the Kern County Coroner’s Office, in collaboration with the DNA Doe Project, has successfully identified the remains found in a grape vineyard on Sebastian Road, near Wheeler Ridge Road in Arvin, back on March 29, 2011, as those of 64-year-old Ada Beth Kaplan. This discovery comes after more than a decade of her identity remaining unknown.

Initially classified as a homicide with an undetermined cause of death, the case went unresolved for several years. The inability to match the victim’s details with missing persons records and fingerprints resulted in her burial at Union Cemetery under the name Jane Doe. However, drawing inspiration from a successful cold case solved using genealogy DNA in 1980, the Coroner’s Office decided to employ the same method for this perplexing case.

In July 2023, the DNA Doe Project made a significant breakthrough. They identified two potential family members residing on the East Coast who could be related to the deceased. After obtaining their consent to provide DNA samples for comparison, the unidentified Jane Doe from 2011 was positively identified as Ada Beth Kaplan, a 64-year-old resident of Canyon Country, CA.

Although the identification of Ada Beth Kaplan brings closure to her mysterious case, numerous enigmas still surround her untimely demise. Strangely, Kaplan was never reported missing, leaving investigators puzzled as to why her absence went unnoticed. Additionally, the circumstances surrounding her death and the identity of any potential suspects involved remain shrouded in secrecy. In their relentless pursuit of justice, Kern County Sheriff detectives have been actively interviewing family members and following leads to unravel the truth.

The Elusive Identity Revealed

After years of uncertainty, the Kern County Coroner’s Office has finally identified the remains discovered on March 29, 2011, in a grape vineyard near Arvin. Through a collaborative effort with the DNA Doe Project, the victim has been identified as Ada Beth Kaplan, a 64-year-old resident of Canyon Country, CA.

A Challenging Cold Case

From the outset, this case presented investigators with numerous challenges. Initially classified as a homicide with an undetermined cause of death, the circumstances surrounding Kaplan’s demise remained a mystery. Despite extensive efforts to match her details with missing persons records and fingerprint databases, her identity remained elusive, leading to her burial as Jane Doe at Union Cemetery.

Inspired by Success

A breakthrough in a similar cold case in 1980, where genealogy DNA played a crucial role in solving the mystery, provided inspiration to the Kern County Coroner’s Office. Drawing upon this success, they decided to employ the same method for the identification of Ada Beth Kaplan.

Cracking the Code

July 2023 marked a turning point in the investigation. The DNA Doe Project successfully identified two potential family members residing on the East Coast who could hold the key to Kaplan’s identity. With their consent, DNA samples were obtained for comparison, leading to the positive identification of Jane Doe 2011 as Ada Beth Kaplan.

Unanswered Questions

While the identification of Ada Beth Kaplan brings a sense of closure, numerous unanswered questions continue to haunt investigators. The fact that Kaplan was never reported missing raises eyebrows and intensifies the mystery surrounding her disappearance. Furthermore, the circumstances leading to her death remain unknown, leaving investigators to piece together the puzzle. The identity of any potential suspects involved in this baffling case remains a subject of intense scrutiny.

Unwavering Pursuit of Justice

Kern County Sheriff detectives are leaving no stone unturned in their relentless pursuit of justice. By conducting interviews with family members and following every lead, they strive to shed light on the circumstances surrounding Ada Beth Kaplan’s death. With the hope of bringing closure to her family and ensuring that justice is served, the investigation continues.