Fannin County Remains ID’d: Search for Missing California Man

The Fannin County Sheriff’s Office is seeking public assistance in an investigation stemming from the discovery of human remains near Trenton, Texas, last August. The remains have been identified as those of Jorge Luis Saldana Villegas, a 28-year-old man originally from California who had been reported missing since March 2023.

According to authorities, deputies responded to a location off US-69 near Trenton on August 27, 2025, following a report from a construction crew who unearthed skeletal remains. The remains were subsequently sent to the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification for analysis, with a positive identification of Villegas recently confirmed.

Villegas’ family reported that he left the San Bernardino, California area sometime around July 2022, traveling to Texas by bus. Communication with him ceased after his departure, and his family had not heard from him prior to being notified of the identification of his remains, the Fannin County Sheriff’s Office stated.

The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are requesting any information the public may have regarding Villegas’ disappearance or his activities after arriving in Texas. Individuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact the Fannin County Sheriff’s Office via email at [email protected] or by calling the non-emergency line at 903-583-2143.