In the early hours before sunrise on Humboldt Bay, the fishing vessel Silver Spray faced a powerful 18-foot wave. This wave tore off the ship’s top, throwing four men into the dark waters. Al Burns, the skipper, recounted to The Times the experience of somersaulting underwater as their 35-foot vessel went under. On December 14, 1999, a tragic boat incident claimed the life of one man who remained missing until recently.

Nearly three decades later, a single bone provided resolution for the family of the California father of three. Jonathan Raxa’s body was not recovered after being tossed into the sea during the violent waves. The incident marked a grim day, as Burns watched the ship’s pilothouse being ripped away.

Raxa, who owned the Silver Spray, was a 37-year-old dedicated to his family. Days before, he had increased crab fishing efforts to fund an evangelical visit to Laos, his homeland. The crab season begins in December when waves in Humboldt Bay can be relentless. This bay, the second largest in California, is notorious for its massive breakers. These powerful white foam waves have pulled people out to sea and wrecked vessels like Raxa’s.

Commercial fishing remains perilous. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health highlights dangers such as vessel disasters and falls overboard. Between 2000 to 2017, the fatality rate in this profession was over 28 times the U.S. average.

Raxa’s remains were missing for close to 30 years. However, in March 2026, a bone washed up 20 miles south on Centerville Beach, from the wreck site of Silver Spray. Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies identified it as a human sacrum, located at the base of the spine, which was submitted to a state DNA system. The bone’s DNA matched a sample from Raxa’s son, collected three decades earlier.

Upon receiving the DNA match, Raxa’s family was informed that the mystery of their father’s disappearance had been resolved. The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office stated that the case underscored the value of preserving DNA samples from relatives in missing person investigations. Such procedures may help detectives solve cases, bringing closure to families even after many years have passed.