Who was Steven Lawrence McCreary? Authorities identify skeleton found in unused building on UC Berkely campus

The police have deemed Steven Lawrence McCreary's case as a homicide and investigations are underway

PUBLISHED JUL 21, 2023

Steven Lawrence McCreary's remains were found in an unused building in the UC Berkeley campus (ucberkeley/Website; ABC7newsbayarea/YouTube)

BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA: In January, a human skeleton was found on the UC Berkeley campus. After conducting a DNA analysis, the remains were identified as those of Steven Lawrence McCreary from Texas.

The evidence indicated that McCreary had died many years ago, and he was last known to be alive around 2009. Police determined his death to be a homicide, and investigations are underway.

A human skeleton was found near the University of California, Berkeley campus (ABC7newsbayarea/YouTube)

Who was Steven Lawrence McCreary?

At the time of his disappearance, McCreary was reportedly around 37. He had no connection or affiliation with UC Berkeley. His date of birth was said to be October 8, 1972. According to UCPD's statement, he was known to be a traveler, often journeying around the country either by train or hitchhiking.

McCreary had died many years ago, and he was last known to be alive around 2009 when he would have been approximately 37 years old — Steven Lawrence McCreary was last known to be alive around 2009 (ABC7newsbayarea/YouTube)

It remains unclear if McCreary had a permanent residence in the Bay Area. Given his nomadic lifestyle, his disappearance and the discovery of his remains near the UC Berkeley campus have raised questions about his activities and whereabouts during the intervening years.

‘Officers refrained from publicly disclosing details until now'

Investigators deemed McCreary's death a homicide based on an assessment of the bones' condition conducted by the Alameda County coroner's office. However, the cause of death has not been provided. The skeleton was discovered in January within an unoccupied building located in a residential hall complex and event space about a mile away from the main campus in the San Francisco Bay Area.

He had no connection or affiliation with UC Berkeley but is known to be born on October 8, 1972 — Steven Lawrence McCreary had no connection or affiliation with UC Berkeley (ABC7newsbayarea/YouTube)

Police said in a statement, "Officers refrained from publicly disclosing details until now because the remains had to be identified, next of kin had to be notified, and the integrity of the investigation had to be protected."

Anyone with information about McCreary is asked to contact University of California Police Department Detective Sgt. Jon Caires at 510-642-0482 or jcaires@berkeley.edu or Detective Mitch Levi at 510-642-3658 or mlevi@berkeley.edu.