Investigators are asking for the public’s help in identifying a person of interest after an individual came forward with information regarding the disappearance and death of Kerry Patterson, a 15-year-old girl from Fullerton, Orange County Sheriff’s Department officials said.

Patterson was last seen on June 26, 1980 walking in the area of Parks Junior High School in the 1700 block of Rosecrans Avenue in Fullerton toward her home in the 1700 block of Peacock Lane when she disappeared.

Kerry Patterson, 15, was last seen on June 26, 1980. (Courtesy Orange County Sheriff’s Department)

In January 2020, an individual came forward with information about a man believed to be in the area around the time of Patterson’s disappearance and worked with investigators to create a composite sketch of the man. Investigators have been pursuing leads and are now asking for the public’s help, said Sgt. Ryan Anderson, a spokesperson for OCSD.

The sketch shows how they believe the man looked in 1980.

Patterson was wearing loose-fitting blue pants, white Vans and either a white T-shirt or Hawaiian print blouse with a yellow pendant necklace that said #1, according to a news release.

Six months after she disappeared, on Dec. 27, 1980, Patterson’s remains were found near Tonner Canyon and the 57 freeway in Brea.

The cause of death is unknown at this time, Anderson said.

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