
Remains recovered from a harbor on the Mendocino County coast last week have been positively identified as those of Naomi L. “Roy” Mora, a missing 15-year-old who vanished over two weeks ago following the city’s annual Christmas parade.
Captain Quincy Cromer of the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office confirmed with SFGATE that on Dec. 23, 2024, at 8:28 a.m., Fort Bragg Police reported finding a human body on the south side of the jetty in Noyo Harbor. Sheriff’s personnel responded promptly and took over the coroner’s investigation.
A press release issued by the Fort Bragg Police Department stated, “Roy’s mother identified jewelry found on the remains as the same as what Roy was wearing the night of his disappearance.”
Due to the condition of the remains, a positive identification was delayed. However, on Dec. 26, an autopsy was conducted, and dental records were obtained for comparison. On Dec. 31, a dentist working with the Sonoma County Coroner’s Office matched the dental records to Mora, officially confirming the identification.
Sheriff’s personnel notified Mora’s legal next-of-kin on Jan. 7, 2025. The official cause and manner of death remain pending the full postmortem examination report, which may take several months to finalize.
The Fort Bragg Police Department received a request to locate Mora on Dec. 7 after he failed to return home following the parade. On Dec. 8, Mora’s mother reported him missing, stating he had not contacted friends or family.
The department followed multiple leads, issuing search warrants, reviewing surveillance footage, and processing numerous tips, including locations suggested by psychics and re-interviewing witnesses as new clues emerged.
Surveillance footage showed Mora walking south on the east side of the Noyo Bridge at 7:49 p.m. on Dec. 7. Cameras on the south end of the bridge did not capture him leaving the area, and no vehicles were seen stopping. Mora’s phone was powered off at 6:55 p.m. and briefly powered on at 2 a.m. before going silent again.
On Dec. 17, a phone matching Mora’s was turned into a local business. The individual who found it said he discovered it on the Noyo Bridge sidewalk late on Dec. 7. He kept it until seeing a missing person flyer and fully cooperated with police, consenting to searches and providing his own location data.
The search extended beyond California to New York and Idaho, where Mora’s former acquaintances lived. Social media warrants provided some leads but did not reveal his location. Investigators determined Mora’s friends, not Mora, had accessed his accounts after his disappearance, further complicating the investigation.
Chief Neil Cervenka stated in a press release, “The entire police department is devastated and is grieving with our community. Our entire staff has been working continuously to find Roy, and through that, have come to know him. Our thoughts are with Roy’s family and friends.”
Authorities have found no signs of foul play in the ongoing investigation.
This is so sad?. Rest In Peace Roy Mora.
Suicide is always a selfish act. People are celebrating this event in a way that will only encourage similar crap in the future. It is also concerning that the police department, coast guard, dfg, fire dept, etc failed to locate the remains immediately below the bridge for a month when they all had evidence the child hadn’t left the bridge any other way than over the rail.
RIP Naomi this is all caused by the poisoning of the minds of children
Naomi was gone before this sad event took place, whether you want to believe it or not.