Placer County Seeks to Identify 1972 Homicide Victim

Investigators suspect victim may be Grover Benjamin Hughes from Des Moines

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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A cold case investigation team in Placer County, California is trying to confirm the identity of a man who was burned alive in 1972. Based on new analysis, investigators believe the victim may be Grover Benjamin Hughes, a man from Des Moines, Iowa who spent time in the Bay Area in the 1960s. However, they have not been able to fully confirm his identity and are asking the public for information or photos of Hughes to aid in the investigation.

Why it matters

Solving this decades-old cold case could provide closure for the victim's family and community, as well as shed light on a tragic unsolved homicide. Identifying the victim is a crucial first step in investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.

The details

The Placer County Sheriff's Office cold case investigation team is working to determine if the 1972 homicide victim was Grover Benjamin Hughes, a man born in Des Moines, Iowa in the 1890s who was known to have spent time in the Bay Area in the 1960s. While new analysis has led them to suspect Hughes was the victim, they have not been able to definitively confirm his identity and are asking the public for any information or photos that could help identify the man.

  • The homicide occurred in Placer County, California in 1972.

The players

Grover Benjamin Hughes

A man born in Des Moines, Iowa in the 1890s who was known to have spent time in the Bay Area in the 1960s, and is suspected to be the victim of a 1972 homicide in Placer County, California.

Placer County Sheriff's Office

The law enforcement agency leading the cold case investigation into the 1972 homicide and seeking to identify the victim.

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What’s next

The Placer County Sheriff's Office is encouraging anyone with information about Grover Benjamin Hughes or the 1972 homicide to contact them at 530-889-7853 or by email at PCSOTipline@placer.ca.gov.

The takeaway

This decades-old cold case highlights the importance of persistent investigations and public cooperation in solving unsolved crimes. Identifying the victim is a crucial first step that could lead to uncovering the circumstances surrounding this tragic homicide and providing closure for the victim's family and community.