The boy had been the focus of an Amber Alert and state wide search for two weeks, after he was abducted from his family's home in Patterson.
The investigation led authorities to the canal, where they pulled several cars out of the water before finally locating the vehicle, reportedly driven by Juliani's kidnapper.
Investigators still have not found the alleged kidnapper, Jose Rodriguez, but they believe his body is in the canal as well.
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PRESS RELEASE - STANISLAUS COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
California Department of Justice Confirms DNA Results Positively Identify Juliani Cardenas
Patterson, CA- Officials with the California Department of Justice notified Stanislaus County Sheriff's detectives today that DNA samples submitted for testing in order to determine positive identification of four year old kidnapping – murder victim Juliani Cardenas, came back as a positive match to his mother Tabitha Cardenas.
Cheek swab samples from Juliani's mother Tabitha Cardenas were matched against samples taken during the autopsy of Juliani. Tabitha Cardenas was notified by detectives of the positive results.
The use of DNA is a technique that analyzes the unique attributes of a person's DNA. When properly conducted, DNA testing not only provides exclusionary evidence in criminal cases, but can also provide positive evidence of a person's identity without bias.
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