The identity of a 20-year-old man who died in a traffic accident while hitchhiking on a Southern California highway 52 years ago has finally been revealed through DNA analysis.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department announced on the 10th that an unidentified male killed in a crash on November 8, 1974, near Baker on Interstate 15 has been identified as Terrance Lee Ronco. Ronco, who was 20 at the time, was a native of Valparaiso, Indiana, and had a military background.
At the time of the accident, Ronco was reportedly riding in a van that he had boarded while hitchhiking. The vehicle collided with a truck and caught fire, resulting in the deaths of both the driver and Ronco. Two other passengers were also in the vehicle.
Investigators were able to confirm the identity of the driver, but Ronco’s identity remained a mystery. At the time, Ronco had introduced himself as ‘Terrance’ or ‘Lee’ and was believed to have boarded the vehicle in Iowa while traveling to Nevada. Although there were clues that he had previously lived in Indiana and Florida, they did not lead to his identification.
Authorities subsequently secured dental records and DNA samples, searching national missing persons and unidentified remains databases. However, because no missing person report had ever been filed for Ronco, they found no leads to connect him with his family.
The case reached a turning point in February of this year when the Sheriff’s Department partnered with the non-profit organization ‘DNA Doe Project.’
Researchers utilized genetic genealogy analysis powered by DNA to uncover clues related to Indiana and Italian ancestry. They subsequently narrowed the search area to the greater Chicago metropolitan area and Porter County, Indiana, identifying Ronco as the primary candidate for identification in just four days.
Additional DNA testing ultimately confirmed that Ronco was indeed the victim of the 1974 accident. It had been exactly 52 years and two days since his death.
The Sheriff’s Department explained that this case demonstrates how advanced DNA analysis techniques can successfully resolve decades-old cold cases.
Authorities have requested that anyone with additional information regarding the case contact the San Bernardino County Coroner’s Division at 909-387-2978.
