Human remains exposed by drought identified as Bay Area woman

A woman whose remains were discovered beneath a California bridge more than a decade ago has finally been identified, authorities announced Monday.

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The woman previously known as “Parrott’s Ferry Jane Doe” was Anita Kathleen Ranker, born Feb. 18, 1969, in Santa Clara County, according to the Calaveras County Cold Case Task Force.

Ranker’s remains were found partially underwater in the Stanislaus River beneath the Parrott’s Ferry Bridge on Oct. 9, 2015. Historically low water levels during California’s severe drought that year exposed the remains, which investigators determined belonged to a woman who had likely been killed.

Despite extensive efforts, authorities were unable to identify her, and the investigation eventually went cold. The case was reopened in 2021 after the formation of the Calaveras Cold Case Task Force. Extracting DNA suitable for forensic genetic genealogy proved difficult because the remains had been submerged for years. In June, California company Astrea Forensics successfully recovered usable DNA.

Genealogists from Identifinders International then located Ranker’s relatives, who gave DNA samples for testing. Private laboratory testing and analysis by the California Department of Justice confirmed her identity.

Investigators believe Ranker disappeared sometime before 2000. She was never reported missing and was likely living in the Murphys area when she died. Authorities said they identified a person of interest but released no further information about that person or the suspected circumstances of Ranker’s killing.

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“Every unidentified person represents a family, friends, and a life story that deserves to be known,” Calaveras County Sheriff Rachelle Whiting said in the release.

The investigation remains active. The Cold Case Task Force said it will continue trying to establish what happened to Ranker and identify whoever was responsible for her death.

Anyone with information about Ranker or her death is asked to call the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office at 209-754-6500.