Human remains found in Northeastern Shasta County have been confirmed as a missing Chico woman. In 2024 two Silver Alerts were issued by the Chico Area CHP. One was for 84-year-old Dolores Sakamoto. The other was for her daughter, 64-year-old Vivian Luna. Both had last been seen in Chico in July of that year. Authorities tried to track them by their cell phones, which pinged for the last time on July 23rd near Mount Shasta Ski Park. The black Lexus sedan the women were in was found in a remote area near Interstate 5 last March with the remains of two people inside. In August the Shasta County Coroners Office sent the remains to the State Department of Justice Lab in Richmond. Only one set of remains was identified, and they were Sakamoto. The Chico State Anthropology Department is trying to confirm the identity of the other remains.
-Steve Gibson