Remains of Missing Fillmore Teen from 1965 Identified Through DNA

On October 25, 1983, Ronald Joseph Cole was reported as a missing person to the Fillmore Police Department.  During the reporting, law enforcement was advised that Ronald Cole had been missing since May of 1965 and his last known location was a family residence in the 400 block of Foothill Drive in the city of Fillmore. 

Family members of Ronald Cole believed he was missing under suspicious circumstances and suspected Ronald Cole’s half-brother, David La Fever, was responsible for Ronald Cole’s disappearance. Due to the suspicious circumstance surrounding Ronald Cole’s disappearance, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office assumed the missing person investigation in August of 1984.

At the time, investigators were unable to find any physical evidence of a crime, a crime scene, or locate Ronald Cole.  David La Fever was named a prime suspect in Ronald Cole’s disappearance, but no criminal charges could be substantiated at that time.  Ronald Cole’s missing person investigation remained open throughout the years.  During the investigation, investigators learned David La Fever passed away on August 12, 2007, in Anchorage, Alaska.

In 2024, Henry County Sheriff’s Office began reviewing a cold case involving unidentified human skeletal remains that were located on October 27, 1966. The remains were located near a creek southeast of Geneseo, Illinois.  Included in the remains discovered was a human skull with an obvious bullet hole, classifying the investigation as homicide.

Investigators with the Henry County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the non-profit organization, DNA Doe Project, in identifying the remains.  At DNA Doe Project’s request, a sample of the remains recovered in 1966 were sent to Astrea Forensics for analysis.  Astrea Forensics is a laboratory that specializes in extracting genetic profiles from highly degraded forensic samples.

Investigators with the Henry County Sheriff’s Office worked with DNA Doe Project and were able to identify potential family members.  In May of 2025, members of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit began working with investigators from the Henry County Sheriff’s Office.  Case notes from the Ronald Cole missing person case were shared and information was compared.

On January 10,2026, Henry County Sheriff’s Office investigators received notification from the DNA Doe Project that the unidentified human remains located in 1966 were confirmed to be that of Ronald Cole. Henry County Sheriff’s Office investigators hold jurisdiction of the homicide investigation regarding Ronald Cole. 

The Ronald Joseph Cole missing person investigation is one of many cold cases constantly being reviewed by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit continually investigates numerous cold cases through cooperation with outside agencies, working with various forensic laboratories, and utilizing assistance from volunteer organizations to solve and make progress of these types of cases.

Nature of Incident: Missing Person / Cold Case Update
Report Number: 84- 52993
Location: 400 Block of Foothill Drive, Fillmore
Date & Time: October 25, 1983
Unit(s) Responsible: Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Bureau
Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit
Henry County Sheriff’s Office
DNA Doe Project
Astrea Forensics

(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent; City of Residence; Age
(V) Ronald Joseph Cole; Fillmore; 19

 Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime.  The caller may remain anonymous.  The call is not recorded.  Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).