Darvis Lee family renews offer of reward

The family of a Sonora man who died after being reported missing in October 2010 has renewed its offer of a reward for information leading to the recovery of his remains.

The family of Darvis Lee Jr. is offering a $25,000 reward for information that leads to his remains.

“We’re not stopping and we’re not backing down, we’re not going away,” said Lee’s mother, Sandy Lee. “I want the community to know we’re not stopping until we find our son and find out who’s responsible (for his death).”

Associates of Lee reported last seeing him alive on Oct. 19, 2010.

The location of his friends and his abandoned car last put him in the Big Hill area, outside Columbia.

Lee, then 36, was reported missing by his parents Oct. 24. He hadn’t been seen by family since Oct. 18.

Lee’s parents found his car Oct. 22 in the Quail Mine area, Sandy Lee said.

Three months after his disappearance, on Jan. 15, 2011, a jawbone was found near Five Mile Creek. Dental records confirmed the bone fragment belonged to Lee.

Since the discovery, the Lees have searched the site for more remains.

“It’s been a year and half last Wednesday since our son was missing,” Lee said.

“We’ve never stopped searching. In the near future we will get some search teams out, a private investigator and if needed we’ll go to media like America’s Most Wanted because we do really have a story to tell.”

“There are a lot of people of interest in this community who go around like nothing happened, but our lives will never be the same,” Lee said.

“Our son wouldn’t have hurt anyone,” Lee said, adding she and her husband, Darvis Sr., have relied on their religious convictions to help them through the ordeal. 

Lee said she is considering writing a book about the experience and donating proceeds to help other families with missing children. 

According to Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Sgt. Jeff Wilson, the case is open but is not being actively investigated until new evidence is found. 

Tipsters should call the Sheriff’s Office at 533-5815. They can also call family members at 743-5223.