Identified! CA - Modesto, woman's remains found, Apr'09 - Regina Patton

http://www.kcra.com/news/19138338/detail.html

9 April 09

The remains of a missing woman were found buried near the Tuolumne River adjacent to John Thurman Field in southwest Modesto, police said Thursday.


Investigators from the Reno Police Department called Sunday offering information about a possible homicide that had occurred two years go in Modesto, Sgt. Brian Findlen said in a news release.


Reno police found the information when they spoke with two people involved in a domestic dispute within their jurisdiction.


Detectives began combing the banks of the Tuolumne River in the area described by a witness. Cadaver dogs were used in the extensive search, but it was a backhoe that ultimately revealed the remains, Findlen added.

more at link

It sounds to me like they already knew who this was when they went looking for her so she was never really an UID.

Detectives believe the remains are that of a missing woman in her 40s who was last seen in 2007. The woman, whose name was not immediately released by police, was reported missing earlier this year but was last seen by family members in 2007.

It is believed that the woman was homeless and frequented the Tuolumne River area at the time of her disappearance.

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Remains of body found near Tuolumne River ID'd as Modesto woman
The skeletal remains of a body found buried a few feet from the Tuolumne River near John Thurman Field in April were identified today as a Modesto woman.

Modesto police detectives received confirmation this morning the remains were that of Regina Patton, who was believed to be a transient at the time of her 2007 death.

In April, Modesto police detectives arrested Reno couple Thomas George Wright, 43, and his wife, Judy Lynn Wright, 44, on suspicion of murdering Patton.

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http://www.modbee.com/2009/06/18/749439/remains-of-body-found-near-tuolumne.html##ixzz1CsYP3obg
Remains discovered in Modesto CA, Missing Woman in 2007 [ID; REGINA PATTON] 04/09/09 - Help Find The Missing

http://www.ci.modesto.ca.us/newsroom/releases/police/prdetail.asp?id=104
http://www.kcra.com/news/19138338/detail.html