The body was previously identified as 26-year-old Adam Buckley, but Buckley is actually alive and authorities have resumed the investigation into the identity of the body found in Lancaster, according to a statement issued Friday, Aug. 31, by the coroner’s office.
Read the full statement below:
The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner (DMEC) has determined it incorrectly identified a body that was found burned beyond recognition in a remote area of Lancaster.
We would like to publicly apologize to the family of the man who was misidentified as the decedent, and also express our regrets to the community we serve. Identification is one of the department’s most important functions, and it is a responsibility we take very seriously. In this instance, we made an error based on the information that we had at the time, but no longer believe to be correct.
As forensic tools and strategies continue to be developed, we are reevaluating our processes in identification to help keep incidents like this from happening again in the future. These types of mistakes are unacceptable to us and run counter to our mission of looking after and protecting the decedents of Los Angeles County. We are committed to making improvements wherever they are warranted.
Here is the sequence of events surrounding this misidentification:
On July 2, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies alerted our department of a body found in Lancaster. Due to the extreme thermal damage of the body and no evidence of identification near or on the decedent, the body was brought to our office and listed as an Undetermined Doe. Less than a week later, and after further analysis, we verified the decedent was a male, and he was classified as John Doe #176. DMEC staff was unable to capture fingerprints or bone DNA due to the extensive damage of the body.
On July 26, LASD contacted our investigators and indicated that John Doe #176 could possibly be a missing person by the name of Adam Buckley. Less than three weeks later, our board-certified radiologist compared body X-rays known to be of Mr. Buckley with body X-rays of the decedent and, based on the information known at that time, confirmed the identification for LASD. Immediately after the identification, our office notified Mr. Buckley’s legal next of kin of the match and John Doe #176 was identified as Adam Buckley.
On Aug. 28, two weeks after the identification, our department was contacted by another agency, which informed us that Mr. Buckley had been located and was alive. We confirmed this identification and established Mr. Buckley was in fact alive and a misidentification had been made. Immediately after learning this, we called the decedent’s next of kin and notified them that their loved one was still alive and apologized for our mistake.
Additional tests are being run on John Doe #176, including DNA found in a muscle. Our department is still waiting on those results. At this time, we have no leads on who he may be.”
Anyone with information on the case is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500, or Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.
Previously related stories:
Dauntless says
This was a very negligent mistake.
Though, it figures, as it is LA County.
And the picture above, is not a house!
Laughing says
It houses spiders.
j says
They also have the city wrong, its not Lancaster, its Hi Vista, {yes “Hi” spelled Hi}
I know this because I live here in Hi Vista, 1 block from the “Kill Bill Church.”
The U.S. Postal Service uses zip code 93535 with Lancaster, Redman, Hi Vista, Roosevelt Corner, Wilsona Gardens, and a small portion of Lake L.A..
John C says
Wanna get away?
William says
What keeps you from telling us where you moved to, John C.?
You are anonymous.
Are you afraid we’ll Google it and check out the crime stats there? I did that once and found out that the city the guy moved to wasn’t exactly paradise.
You can’t be all that happy if you spend your time kvetching on this site and have nothing better to do in your new locale.
You follow the pattern of many you have moved away and yet continue to complain about their old town. It’s a disease, I guess.
John C says
It was a reference to the southwest airline commercials with that slogan..
I live somewhere in the heart of LA county. I have no doubt the crime stats are higher because of a higher population density. When I decry the AV, its not for its crime statistics, but its bigoted backward minded people. Crime is proportionate to population. More people, more crime. Less people, less crime. That’s not what ever bothered me about living in the AV. I never once complained about the crime rate. It seems about average for a community of its size, and has never really stood out to me.
What I am frustrated with is the amount of close minded people, and outright bigots who frequent this page and comments section. It’s an outlier from most of the California population, and the racists/white supremacists seem more emboldened in recent years in the Antelope Valley
For as much shade as I throw, the AV was good to me for the decade plus I lived there. Im just not in an hurry to move back. I’m happier where I’m at but I cared about this community for a long long time before I left.
Alexis says
So why are you still here? you complain about your community all the time. You hate this politician, and you hate that politician, and you hate any commenter that has a different opinion than yours in this community. I am glad that you are happier where you are John C.
Debra Griffin says
My 17 year newphew, Mayrick Warren has been missing since 11/15/2017 from Lancaster, California possibly around that general area. this has been rough on our family and this is scary.
Candice says
I am so sorry about your nephew.
Im also sorry that all these people commenting are ignorant and have no ability to show any compassion for the fact that someone has lost their life here and that you have a loved one missing and are fearful of this outcome.
My apologies.
Have you contacted the coroner to let them know that you need to inquire about the unidentified remains that were incorrectly identified last month as you are concerned that they could belong to your missing nephew?
Fred Gladstone says
Once again, Los Angeles, the Antelope Valley and California in general prove they are unable to manage affairs in an intelligent manner. Just Think Gov. Moonbeam has the power to release all the murderers in San Quentin which I am sure he will so this will be nothing compared to whats coming soon. But, of course, Democrats are outraged cause In-N-Out contributed money to the Republican Committee of California. Sure glad I no longer live in the AV which has become a HUGE ghetto.
Jennifer K. says
Just stfu with your political [removed] this is a somebody’s family member and you want to rant about Democrats and the governor of California?
John C says
Because the AV is just SOOOO Liberal and Democrat….
/Sarcasm
JJ says
I wonder if they are even sure if it’s a male or female….
Candice says
Its a male