A teenage girl, Michelle Louise Collier, whose body was discovered in a shallow grave beneath a California vineyard in June 1978, has been identified nearly 50 years later. Collier, who was 15 years old when she disappeared from Fresno in February 1978, was known as "Arvin Jane Doe" until her identification was confirmed through DNA analysis in October 2025. Her remains were found by a tractor operator near South Wheeler Ridge Road, but investigators were unable to identify her at the time. The case remained cold for decades until advancements in forensic science allowed for a breakthrough in 2025.
Cynthia Dunbar, Collier's older sister, expressed the family's long wait for closure during a news conference, stating, "At least with this information, my family has some closure." Dunbar also addressed the individual responsible for her sister's death, emphasizing the impact on their family and expressing hope for justice.
Kern County homicide Detective Ashley Thompson noted that the identification of Collier marks a significant development in the investigation, which is now entering a new phase. Authorities have requested anyone with information about Collier's life, disappearance, or death to contact them.