Skeletal Remains of Former Southern Humboldt Man Killed in Washington State Identified

Josiah Hilderbrand and Jon Cleary as pictured on a Facebook event poster asking friends to “Light a candle, pray, hold space for Jon and Josiah and Families.” [Image from here]

Jim Curtice, the Yakima County Coroner, confirmed to us that one of the skeletal remains of two people found by highway workers belonged to Hilderbrand. The second set has not yet been identified but are believed to be those of Jon Cleary, who was traveling with Hilderbrand to see Dead & Company.

He wrote, “The manner of death [in both cases] is homicide, the cause of death remains under investigation.”

According to Hilderbrand’s mother, Liz Hilderbrand, writing yesterday on the Help Bring Josiah Home website, “Dental records came back yesterday for Josiah. They are a match.”

Ms. Hilderbrand wrote, “[I]t is still believed that [Jon Cleary and Josiah Hilderbrand] picked up their killers on the side of the road hitchhiking. There is no other story line. It was literally that senseless. Murdered, dumped, car stolen only to be driven away, dumped and burned. All of it for nothing. Bullet casings found in the car match bullet casings found at the White Swan killings the following day. Seven people murdered total. Seven families shattered.”

The Yakima County Coroner stated, “We are hopeful that justice will be served to the individual or individuals responsible for these tragic and senseless deaths.”

Earlier Chapters:

• Missing Under Suspicious Circumstances: A Mendocino Mother Searches for Her Only Son Who Was Raised Here in the Emerald Triangle
• $35,000 Reward Offered, in Part by the FBI, in Case of Missing Former Southern Humboldt Man 
• Mother Says Body of Former Southern Humboldt Man Believed to Have Been Murdered in Washington State During a Two Day Killing Spree Has Been Located