The mysterious disappearance of Lompoc resident Dana McPeek nearly ten years ago has been partially solved.

"It's been nine years, ten months and 23 days since Dana disappeared and we've missed her each and every day", says brother Troy McPeek, "we've all agonized over what happened to Dana and today is the announcement of that answer."

Troy McPeek comments on the discovery of human remains that DNA tests confirm belong to his sister Dana who vanished in early May 2001.

"Several weeks ago an individual was walking in a remote area of northern Santa Barbara County looking for historic artifacts and this person discovered a human jawbone", said Lompoc Police Chief Tim Dabney at a Wednesday morning press conference to announce the new development in the cold case.

Chief Dabney says they are not revealing exactly where Dana McPeek's remains were found in order to protect the ongoing investigation.

Dana McPeek's abandoned truck was found after she was last seen early in the morning on May 4, 2001 but police were never able to trace an unknown fingerprint found in the vehicle.

The McPeek family and friends tried to keep Dana's face and disappearance in the public eye by posting flyers across town and searching local riverbeds

"I've always felt that someone did her harm right from the beginning of the disappearance", says longtime friend Glen Marcum.

Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown was Lompoc Police Chief when Dana McPeek vanished.

Brown knows the case inside and out, and as County Coroner, will play a key role in determining how she died.

"I believe that there are people in the community who know what happened to Dana", Sheriff Brown says, "I ask those people to come forward now to help answer the remaining questions and to provide Dana's family with the closure that they deserve."

While they continue to wait for that closure the McPeek family says it's grateful to the police and the community.

"From our hearts we thank you for never giving up looking for Dana", adds Troy McPeek.


The County Sheriff's Department says it will be conducting a more thorough search and forensic excavation of the location where Dana McPeek's remains were found.