Investigators Closer to Identifying Man Who Self-Immolated on CA Beach

An unknown man's charred remains were found on July 24, 2020, after firefighters were called to California's Pescadero State Beach over reports of a large bonfire.

Investigators Closer to Identifying Man Who Self-Immolated on CA Beach

TL;DR

  • Investigators are closer to identifying a man who self-immolated on Pescadero State Beach in 2020.
  • The man is believed to be between 30 and 65 years old and possibly of West Asian descent with ties to the Zoroastrian community in Iran.
  • Items found near the remains include size 34 black boots, a green duffle bag with a key, a tin candle, and a black headscarf with 'GS' on it.
  • Limited DNA databases for underrepresented ancestral backgrounds have created a roadblock in identification.
  • Authorities are urging people with ties to the suspected populations to take DNA tests and upload their results to help solve the case.
  • This incident occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic when much of the country was locked down.