Authorities ID Woman Found Dead in Riverside County Ravine in 1980

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Authorities have identified a woman found dead in a Riverside County ravine in 1980 as Victoria Jean Hargrove, a 29-year-old who had been reported missing from Opelika, Alabama less than a month before her body was discovered. New DNA analysis confirmed Hargrove's identity, and police are now seeking information about why she traveled to California and the circumstances surrounding her death.

Why it matters

This case had gone cold for decades, but new DNA testing has finally provided answers about the identity of the victim, which could help investigators uncover what happened and potentially lead to solving the long-unsolved homicide.

The details

In February 1980, a woman's body was found in a ravine off Highway 74, south of Cahuilla, in Riverside County. The victim remained unidentified for 46 years until new DNA analysis confirmed she was Victoria Jean Hargrove, a 29-year-old woman who had been reported missing from Opelika, Alabama less than a month before her body was discovered.

• Hargrove was reported missing from Opelika, Alabama in January 1980.
• Her body was found in a Riverside County ravine in February 1980.

What’s next

Authorities are now asking the public for any information that could help explain why Hargrove traveled to California and the circumstances surrounding her death.