DNA breakthrough in mystery of man who set himself on fire on California beach

DNA analysis has shed new light on the mystery of a man suspected of setting himself on fire on a remote California beach, pointing to Middle Eastern ancestry and possible ties to one of the world’s oldest religions.

But more than six years after his charred remains were found in a bonfire, investigators still don’t know who he was or why he died.

The man’s remains were discovered on July 24, 2020, at Pescadero State Beach, south of San Francisco, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office believes the man, estimated to be between 30 and 65 years old, set the fire and set himself on fire.

The body was so badly burned that traditional forensic examination provided few clues about his identity, forcing investigators to turn to DNA analysis in hopes of finding answers.

Now, genetic material analyzed by the nonprofit Wolf Pack DNA suggests the man was of Iranian ancestry, possibly with ties to Eastern Mediterranean populations or Tehran’s Zoroastrian community.

Zoroastrianism originated in ancient Iran long before Christianity and remains one of the oldest surviving religions in the world. Although it was once influential in the Persian world, it is now practiced only by relatively small communities, including a minority in Iran.

Investigators have not determined that the man was a Zoroastrian or that any religious belief played a role in his death.

While the latest findings provide new avenues for the investigation, experts say identifying the man will remain a challenge.

Genetic genealogy works by comparing DNA from unidentified remains to profiles voluntarily uploaded to genealogy repositories. This process can help investigators identify relatives and build a family tree, potentially resulting in a name.

However, in this case, the available genetic matches have not yet yielded a clear identification. The search is further complicated by the lack of DNA profiles of people with possible backgrounds to the man.

Diana Monnette, assistant director of the Wolfpack DNA Center, said researchers have turned their attention to public appeals in the hope that someone will recognize the man or remember seeing him at the time of his death.

“By sharing available information on platforms such as Reddit and Facebook, we hope to find someone who may know this individual, or remember something about the incident on the beach, that will allow him to be identified,” Monnette told SFGATE.

Investigators are also seeking information about items found near the fire, including black European size 4 boots, a green duffel bag, a white metal key attached to a red key chain, a small Star Candle candle, and a black bandana with a medium-sized white dot and the letters “GS.”

Authorities have not publicly determined who owns the items or indicated whether they are linked to specific individuals or communities.

How the man got to the beach remains a mystery to investigators.

Pescadero State Beach is not served by public transportation, and investigators cannot clearly explain how he arrived at this remote coastal spot.

His death also came at the height of the pandemic, when restrictions and disruptions upended daily life across California.

Investigators urge anyone with information to contact the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office at 650-599-1536 or the San Mateo County Coroner’s Office at 650-312-5562.

People who have had a DNA test can also help by uploading their qualifying profile to GEDmatch or DNA Justice. The researchers emphasized that GEDmatch users must explicitly select law enforcement matches so that their profiles can be used for eligible investigations.

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