DNA confirms remains found are that of Lompoc man missing since 2017
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. - A Lompoc man who had been missing since 2017 has been declared dead after DNA confirmed that his remains were found near the site of a crash in Kern County.
The Kern County Coroner's Office confirms that remains found near the site of a crash near Maricopa are that of a 29-year-old Zacharey Wilks, who was last seen in 2017.
Wilks' car was discovered back in October off Highway 166 east of Soda Lake Road near Maricopa. In the ensuing days, human remains were discovered at the site, according to the Kern County Sheriff's Office.
On Feb. 13, DNA positively identified the remains of Wilks. A postmortem examination was unable to determine the cause of death, the sheriff's office said.
Wilks was last seen on May 24, 2017. Family members said he was planning on visiting his uncle's house in Las Vegas but never arrived.
An extensive search began after he was reported missing. Family members continually provided updates on the search for Wilks in a Facebook group.
Over the weekend, news of the positive DNA identification was posted by Zacharey's mother. Tributes and words of support have since poured in online.
The Wilks family provided our newsroom with the following statement:
"Our family is deeply saddened by the final outcome of the search for Zacharey. Friends, family and strangers spent their time, resources, and energies to help in the search for Zack. He is loved and missed by all.  Our family is trying to figure out the next steps. We have so many unanswered questions that we will never have answers for. In the upcoming weeks we are planning a memorial for Zacharey that will celebrate him and the life he loved so much. Additionally we will be setting up a fund for donations to his second love, dogs. To those that love and miss him.... housekeeping has knocked for the last time."
The Wilks Family
