In a bizarre twist worthy of a true crime documentary, 76-year-old Dorothia Diaz was shocked to learn that a California cold case team believed she had been murdered nearly 50 years ago.
Dorothia, who lives in Bowie, Texas, assured the media that she is very much alive and well—despite being mistakenly linked to a 1976 homicide victim found in a Mojave Desert mineshaft.
The Case That Led to the Confusion
- In 1976, hikers discovered the remains of a young woman in an abandoned mineshaft in the Mojave Desert.
- She had been shot in the back with a shotgun and was wearing only a bathing suit.
- Investigators determined that debris had been thrown over her body to hide it.
- Due to the remote location, it took 45 minutes to reach the crime scene from the nearest road.
Despite decades of investigation, the victim remained unidentified—until DNA evidence reopened the case.
How Dorothia Diaz Got Mistaken for the Victim
Retired coroner David Van Norman, who is leading the cold case investigation, used DNA evidence to trace the victim’s potential relatives.
This search led him to believe that the murdered woman was Dorothy Riddick, a name linked to a Wichita Falls-area family.
However, Dorothy Riddick hadn’t been murdered—she had been placed for adoption as a baby and later became Dorothia Diaz.
“The report of my death was an exaggeration,” Dorothia joked, referencing the famous Mark Twain quote.
Dorothia’s Connection to the Real Victim
While Dorothia wasn’t the murder victim, she may still be a close relative of the unidentified woman.
- Dorothia was adopted but stayed in touch with her biological family in Wichita Falls.
- Her grandparents had 10 children, spreading the family DNA far and wide.
- She lived in California at the time of the 1976 murder, though she has no recollection of the victim.
“I have no idea who she might have been,” Dorothia admitted.
Helping Solve the Mystery
Dorothia is now providing DNA to help investigators finally identify the real victim.
- She encourages other family members to come forward if they have any information.
- She hopes to bring closure to the victim’s family and ensure she is not forgotten.
“It’s not fair for this girl to lie there and not be known,” Dorothia said.
Van Norman has shifted his focus to the San Diego area, where some of Dorothia’s relatives moved years ago.