S.F.-born woman who died in 1967 identified

A San Franciscan born in 1928 was identified as a woman whose decomposed remains were found in Sonoma County nearly 60 years ago — and investigators are hoping the public can help solve the mystery of how the woman lived and died.

On Feb. 3, 1967, the body of the woman now identified as Lillian Deputies hope the public can help solve the mystery about how Lillian Marie Cardenas lived and died.

Marie Cardenas was found off Highway 1, north of Jenner, down a steep cliff. Officials determined she had died from “multiple fractures to her skull and ribs,” according to the Sonoma County Sheriff ’s Office. But how she was injured remained unknown.

After unsuccessfully trying to identify the woman, officials had the remains buried at a county cemetery.

For decades, officials listed Cardenas’ remains under a “Jane Doe.” In 2009, her body was exhumed and examined by an anthropologist, Mark Griffin from San Francisco State University, who determined she had been the victim of a homicide and had been between 40 and 46 years of age.

Last year, a DNA cold-case project analyzed the remains and identified them as belonging to Cardenas, a San Franciscan born in 1928 who became estranged from her family. She was last known to be living in San Francisco.

Police are hoping the public can help piece together how Cardenas lived and died. Anyone with information is asked to call the Cold Case Unit at 707-5652727 or email sheriff-coldcase@sonoma-county.org.