(PDF) (DOC) (JPG)August 27, 2026

A black & white image of a man in presumably a jail or prison uniform with a sign around his neck that contains the words "Colo State Pen" and the number "32332 and the date "Mar 9, 1960." The left is a half-body profile shot and the right is a half-body forward-facing photo.

Mahwah, NJ– The Placer County Cold Case Investigations team has identified the remains of a man found in 1994 in Nyack, CA as George Krusely (4/30/1929), in part due to research conducted at the Ramapo College of New Jersey Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) Center.

 A partial human skull was found by loggers near a campsite at Lake Putt on July 7, 1994. At the time, detectives estimated the campsite had been there for quite some time, potentially upwards of a year. Several items were collected and stored in evidence, including the remains. Due to the limited evidence, a cause of death was never determined.

 Krusely was last known to be in California in 1963. It’s unclear how long he had been deceased when his remains were located.

 The case was referred to the Ramapo College IGG Center in December of 2024.Through extensive DNA testing by the California Department of Justice and Othram Inc., investigators were able to develop a DNA profile from the evidence. That information was shared with the IGG Center in January of 2025 where students who previously completed the IGG certificate program volunteered to trace the genetic information and identify Krusely as a candidate in December of 2025. Once Krusely was confirmed by the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, the IGG team began working on identifying a living descendant to Krusely.

“The case was very challenging due to the Croatian and Yugoslavian ancestry of the

unidentified,” said Cairenn Binder, director of Ramapo’s IGG Center. ”Low representation in accessible DNA databases and limited availability of genealogy records in some populations can make our research more complex.”

 The Lordstown Police Department in Ohio assisted investigators in obtaining a DNA sample from Krusely’s descendant. The sample matched the DNA profile developed from the remains, allowing investigators to confirm that the remains belonged to George Krusely.

 The Placer County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to investigating cold cases and bringing answers to families, no matter how much time has passed.

 “I applaud everyone involved in this case for seeing an opportunity to bring a family answers,” said Placer County Sheriff Wayne Woo. “No matter how many years pass, everyone deserves answers. The Placer County Cold Case Unit is proving that advances in technology can make a remarkable difference in solving cases that have gone cold. While answers can’t bring back a loved one, we hope this identification provides some peace and brings an end to the uncertainty that has lasted for decades.”

The Placer County Cold Case Foundation was created by community members who want to support families and help keep Placer County cold cases alive. One of the ways the foundation supports the Cold Case Investigations team is through financial assistance that helps offset the costs of submitting evidence for advanced DNA testing.

 Advances in DNA testing and genetic genealogy are providing new hope in cases that have gone cold. Testing evidence can be expensive, however, and funding can be a significant barrier to pursuing new leads.

 The Ramapo College IGG Center provides casework services, education programs, and conducts research to advance the field of investigative genetic genealogy.  To date, more than 89 cases have been resolved or are active thanks to the IGG Center team and students.

To learn more about the work of the Ramapo College IGG Center, visit ramapo.edu/igg. To learn more about the Placer County Cold Case Foundation and its work supporting cold case investigations, visit placercoldcase.org. 

Hope never grows cold.

*Feature image obtained from Colorado archives: A photo from the arrest record of George Krusely when he entered a guilty plea for breaking and entering in Plumas County, California.

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About Ramapo College

Ramapo College of New Jersey is the state’s premier public liberal arts college and is committed to academic excellence through interdisciplinary and experiential learning, and international and intercultural understanding. The comprehensive college is situated among the beautiful Ramapo Mountains, is within commuting distance to New York City, was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful College Campuses in America by CondeNast Traveler, and boasts the best on-campus housing in New Jersey per Niche.com. Established in 1969, Ramapo College offers bachelor’s degrees in the arts, business, data science, humanities, social sciences and the sciences, as well as in professional studies, which include business, education, nursing and social work. In addition, the College offers courses leading to teacher certification at the elementary and secondary levels, and offers graduate programs leading to master’s degrees in Accounting, Applied Mathematics, Business Administration, Contemporary Instructional Design, Computer Science, Creative Music Technology, Data Science, Educational Leadership, Nursing, Social Work and Special Education, as well as a Doctor of Nursing Practice. To learn more about Ramapo College, visit ramapo.edu.

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