Alexis Gabe remains found in Amador County field
PLYMOUTH -- Human remains discovered in Amador County this week are those of Alexis Gabe, the Oakley woman reported missing in January, according to police investigators.
On Thursday afternoon, a resident in the Amador County town of Plymouth discovered something suspicious that was thought to be human remains. The resident notified the Amador County Sheriff's Office and sheriff's deputies and investigators responded to the area to find the remains.
Due to the time of day and diminishing daylight, it was determined it would be best to keep watch over the area and initiate a more thorough investigation Friday morning.
Members of the Oakley police department and the Antioch police department responded to the Plymouth area early Friday morning to assist with the investigation.
Oakley police said Friday evening the specific location is in an area just off Jackson Road in Plymouth. The area where Alexis' remains were found has been searched further and no other remains have been located.
The collaborative investigation did confirm the partial remains were human. A forensic odontologist responded to the Amador County Sheriff's Office facility to examine the remains. That expert positively identified the remains as those of Gabe.
According to Oakley police, the Gabe family has been notified and they are requesting respect and privacy during this time of mourning.
"Due to the nature of the condition of Alexis' remains and the lack of her full body, we do believe the remainder of her remains are scattered in various areas," according to Oakley police.
Due to the condition of Gabe's remains, Oakley police realize there may never be a full recovery of her. The city of Oakley has determined there will be no extensions of reward funds for any future remains that may be found.
A LONG, AGONIZING SEARCH
Twenty-four-year-old Alexis Gabe vanished in January and her body was never found. She was last seen at the home of her boyfriend in Antioch on Jan. 26. Her car was found days later in Oakley on Trenton St. and Carrington Dr. in a cul-de-sac off Oakley Road. The car was unlocked with the keys inside.
Police believe Gabe was murdered by her ex-boyfriend Marshal Jones. He was killed on June 1 in a confrontation with police in a Seattle suburb.
Oakley police chief Paul Beard said at the time the search for Gabe was the biggest case in the department's history. He said he had reassigned personnel to the investigation and had received assistance from numerous agencies, especially from the Antioch police department.
In July, Gabe's family obtained handwritten directions penned by Jones that pointed investigators toward an area around Pioneer in Amador County. Search crews used cadaver dogs to scour the area, even checking the septic tanks of nearby homes and businesses.
Police at that time confirmed that Jones had been in the area. While he used the handwritten directions and had his phone turned off, investigators say the suspect got lost and had to turn his phone on to get back on track. That's when they were able to pinpoint his location.
STATEMENT FROM AMADOR COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
On November 3, 2022, at approximately 3 p.m., the Sheriff's Office received an anonymous tip through the Amador County Secret Witness Program. The anonymous tip stated that human remains had been found in the west end of the county.
Sheriff's Office detectives and crime scene investigators responded to the scene and initiated a search of the area where they ultimately located the remains described in the tip. Detectives and the crime scene investigators documented the evidence found and collected the remains.
This morning, an expanded search of the area was conducted with the assistance of cadaver dogs, Amador County Sheriff's Office personnel, as well as staff from the Antioch and Oakley Police Departments. More evidence was identified and collected from the scene.
After the search was completed, a board certified Forensic Odontologist, utilizing known dental records from the victim, was able to identify the remains as belonging to missing person, Alexis Gabe. All evidence collected by the Amador County Sheriff's Office was turned over to Oakley Police Department detectives and Coroner jurisdiction has been turned over to the Contra Costa County Coroner's Office to determine manner and cause of death.
Any questions regarding this case should be directed to the Antioch and Oakley Police Departments. The Amador County Sheriff's Office would like to extend their condolences to the Gabe family in this difficult time.