San Joaquin County Authorities Identify Remains Found in 1981 as Missing Oakland Man
THORNTON, CA — “On July 13, 1981, at 2:37 PM, deputies responded to a report of a body floating in the water near Blossom Road and Beaver Slough in rural Thornton, CA. The victim, a Black male, was badly decomposed and was only wearing white swim shorts with red and blue stripes. A tattoo on the left arm read ‘Black is Beautiful.’ The victim had sustained a gunshot wound to the right shoulder.
The victim may be connected to a white or beige Cadillac that was seen in the area days earlier. The driver of the vehicle resembled the victim, but no vehicle or additional clothing were found at the scene.
Thanks to advancements in fingerprint technology, the victim was recently identified as Edward Donald Raymond (born 02/21/1947), who also used the alias Edward Wilson (born 07/21/1948). Raymond had never been reported as missing. The only information available is an arrest in 1976 by the San Francisco Police Department, where he provided an address in Oakland.
The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit strives to bring closure not only for the families left behind but also for the lives taken. We are asking for any information that may help us better understand what happened to Edward Raymond and bring justice to this case. If you have any information, please contact our office. Your assistance could be crucial in solving this case and providing answers for all those impacted.”
