Human remains discovered on a California beach in 2022 have been identified as those of a man who went missing more than two decades ago, according to DNA analysis results announced this week.

The bones were found in June 2022 by a family searching for seashells at Salmon Creek State Beach in northern California. The DNA Doe Project, a nonprofit organization that uses genetic genealogy to identify remains, confirmed through DNA testing that the bones belonged to Walter Karl Kinney.

Kinney was 59 years old when he was last seen in 1999. He had worked as a banker and lived in Santa Rosa, located near the beach where his remains were discovered. The case represents a 23-year gap between his disappearance and the identification of his remains.

The DNA Doe Project announced the identification on Thursday, marking the resolution of a long-standing missing person case. The organization specializes in using advanced DNA analysis and genealogical research to identify previously unidentified human remains.

Authorities have not released details about the circumstances of Kinney's death or how his remains came to be at the beach location. The discovery and subsequent identification highlight the ongoing efforts by law enforcement and volunteer organizations to resolve cold cases involving missing persons.