SANTA ANA — Orange County sheriff’s investigators Monday released a rendering of an unknown homicide victim in the hopes it will spur leads in the case.

The victim’s body was found Dec. 24, 2013, by a commercial fishing boat about a mile off the coast of Newport Beach. At that time, investigators speculated the victim was white or potentially Latino, but the body was so decomposed it was to difficult to confirm, deputies said.

Investigators reopened the case in October 2021 and took DNA from a bone extraction to work up a new profile on the victim, and based on this investigators now believe the man was of Chinese descent, officials said.

Forensic artist Carl Koppelman worked with sheriff’s investigators to develop a composite drawing of the victim.

Anyone who has information helpful to investigators is asked to call 714-647-7055 or email coldcaseocsheriff.gov

Orange County Crime Stoppers will accept anonymous tips at 855-TIP-OCCS.

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