Johanna Swanson : “Missing Woman Identified: Skull Found in Search”

Accident – Death – Obituary News : : 1. Woman missing skull
2. identified missing woman skull

A woman whose skull was found by Caltrans workers on the side of the road in February has been identified as Johanna Swanson, a 46-year-old woman reported missing by her family in December. The discovery was made on the Valencia Boulevard off-ramp for the southbound lanes of Interstate 5. The California Highway Patrol contacted law enforcement officials after the workers made the discovery, temporarily closing the off-ramp for investigation. The L.A. County Sheriff’s Department had issued an alert for Swanson, who suffers from depression, before her skull was found less than a quarter-mile from where she was last seen. The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is urged to contact “LA Crime Stoppers.”

Discovery of Missing Woman’s Skull

In a recent discovery by Caltrans workers, a woman’s skull was found on the side of the road in February. The incident took place around 1 p.m. on Feb. 26, when employees were working on the shoulder of the Valencia Boulevard off-ramp for the southbound lanes of Interstate 5. The skull was identified as belonging to Johanna Swanson, a 46-year-old woman who had been reported missing by her family in December.

Identification of the Victim

Johanna Swanson, a woman with no listed city of residence, was confirmed as the owner of the discovered skull. The L.A. County Coroner’s Office provided this information in an email on Friday. The California Highway Patrol’s L.A. Communications Center log shows that the workers who found the skull contacted law enforcement officials immediately.

Investigation and Closure of Off-Ramp

Following the discovery, officials temporarily closed the off-ramp for investigation. The CHP’s Newhall area office is currently handling the case through its Internal Services Unit. The L.A. County Sheriff’s Department had issued an alert about an “at-risk missing person” in December, which was later confirmed to be Johanna Swanson.

Proximity to Last Known Location

The skull was found less than a quarter-mile from where Swanson was last seen by her family. The incident was initially referred to as Unidentified Doe No. 70 due to the condition of the remains and the lack of identification. The southbound off-ramp of Valencia Boulevard remained closed during the investigation.

Details about the Location

The off-ramp where the skull was found is part of the I-5 North County Enhancements Project, as confirmed by LA Metro spokesman Patrick Chandler. The area is under construction and was being worked on by Caltrans employees at the time of the discovery. There is currently no additional information available about the incident.

Appeal for Information

Authorities are urging anyone with information about the remains or what happened to come forward. “LA Crime Stoppers” can be contacted by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or visiting the website lacrimestoppers.org. Any information provided could help in furthering the investigation into this tragic incident.