Cold Case Breakthrough Identifies Man Found in Solano County Creek in 1980

Donald Gene Horecka, a 25-year-old from Las Vegas, was identified through advanced DNA and genealogical techniques, decades after his death from ingesting a chemical substance.

• The body of Donald Gene Horecka, found in a Benicia creek bed in February 1980, has been identified after 44 years.
• Horecka, originally from Las Vegas, was 25 years old at the time of his death, which was caused by corrosive esophagitis from ingesting a caustic chemical.
• The case was reopened in 2023 as part of the Doe Cold Case Project, utilizing modern forensic DNA and genetic genealogy methods to establish his identity.
• Investigators collaborated with forensic experts, genealogists, and Horecka’s relatives to confirm the match through DNA testing.
• Authorities are still seeking information about the circumstances surrounding Horecka’s disappearance and death, urging anyone with knowledge to contact the Solano County Sheriff’s Office.

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