Tuesday, 27 October 2026, 7:50
Decades after partial human remains were discovered on a hillside near Ojai, Ventura County investigators have finally identified the woman. The breakthrough comes from advanced DNA technology that linked the remains to Patricia Diana Hunt Fielding, a mother of four from Kern County.
On July 23, 1990, firefighters responding to a traffic collision near Highway 33 and Creek Road discovered skeletal remains approximately 60 feet down an embankment. Initial forensic examinations determined the remains belonged to a woman aged between 30 and 60. Despite extensive searches, authorities could not determine the cause of death or identify the individual at the time.
In February 2025, the Ventura County Sheriff's Office Cold Case Unit collaborated with the county Medical Examiner's Office and Othram, a specialized forensic genetics company. They utilized advanced DNA profiling and forensic genetic genealogy to re-examine the evidence. Detectives successfully traced potential family connections and obtained a reference DNA sample for comparison.
The DNA comparison confirmed the identity of the deceased as Patricia Diana Hunt Fielding, also known as Patsy. Born on October 15, 1933, in Kern County, she was a 57-year-old mother of four living in Taft when her remains were found. Records indicate she was married to Joseph Coleman Fielding until their divorce in 1967. Her daughter, Susan Joann Streich, passed away in 2018, listing both parents as predeceased relatives.
While her identity is now known, much about Fielding's life and the circumstances surrounding her death remains a mystery.
The resolution of this cold case highlights the ongoing commitment of the Ventura County Sheriff's Office to solving unsolved crimes. For residents of Ojai and surrounding unincorporated areas, the announcement provides closure regarding a long-standing local mystery. Authorities emphasize that identifying individuals from decades-old cases often requires new technological advancements that were unavailable during the original investigation.
Cold case units across California have increasingly relied on forensic genetic genealogy to solve mysteries dating back decades. This method analyzes DNA profiles against public genetic databases to find familial links, a technique that revolutionized investigative procedures in recent years. The Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office maintains detailed records of unidentified remains to facilitate these future comparisons.
Ventura County authorities are urging anyone who knew Patricia Diana Hunt Fielding or has information regarding her whereabouts prior to July 1990 to come forward. Tips can be directed to the Cold Case Unit at (805) 383-8739. Sharing her name may finally uncover the truth about her final journey and bring answers to her remaining family members.
