San Mateo County Sheriff's Office Seeks Public Help to Identify Man Who Died at Pescadero State Beach

Six years after the incident, the man's identity remains unknown, prompting investigators to publicly share personal belongings and genetic insights to enlist public assistance.

• •Firefighters discovered the charred body of an unidentified man at Pescadero State Beach while extinguishing a bonfire on July 24, 2020.
• •Investigators believe the man built the bonfire and died via self-immolation.
• •The man is estimated to have been between 30 and 65 years old at the time of his death.
• •Personal items found at the scene include EU size 43 black boots, a green duffel bag with a white metal key on a red keychain, a Starlight Candle-brand candle, and a black head scarf with white dots and the letters 'GS.'
• •The nonprofit Wolf Pack DNA tested the man's DNA and determined he is of Iranian descent, possibly with ties to eastern Mediterranean regions or the Zoroastrian community in Tehran.
• •Because few people from the man's likely background are in large genetic databases like GEDmatch, researchers have shifted focus to community outreach on platforms like Reddit and Facebook.
• •The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office is asking anyone with information to contact them at 650-599-1536 or the San Mateo County Coroner's Office at 650-312-5562 under case number 20-05503.