Found Deceased CA - Donna Lass, 25, South Lake Tahoe, 6 Sept 1970

[atomicsciencegal]

I believe this is the JD thread, skull found in Placer Co. August 1986 near I-80 and Hwy 20.

Identified! - CA - Placer County, WhtFem 15/20-27, 1487UFCA, UP17570, Skull in drainage ditch, Aug'86 - Donna Lass

Don't think she has a thread but please merge if she does. Unfortunately very little to go off of, she will probably have to to be identified by DNA. I can't find any articles on her either. Unidentified Female Namus UP17570 D.B.F: August 5, 1986 Estimated PMI: ~3 years Estimated year of...

www.websleuths.com

Thank you so much for finding that, @Caring1 .

 

[John/Jane Doe]

Placer County Sheriff’s Office closes 1971 cold case of possible Zodiac Killer victim

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. The Placer County Sheriff’s Office announced that an identification has been made in a case originating from the South Lake Tahoe area back in 1971. In 1971, Donna Lass was reported...

www.tahoedailytribune.com

 

[imstilla.grandma]

*Cross posting:

While the investigation went nowhere at the time, the Placer County Sheriff's Office did find a skull off Highway 20 near Interstate 80 more than a decade later. However, detectives at the time couldn't identify that person.

The skull was preserved and, in recent years, was re-examined by Placer County's new cold case team.

With advancements in DNA technology at their disposal, the skull found in 1986 had DNA that matched with a member of Lass' family. The remains were then positively identified as that of Donna Lass

Detectives identify remains of 1971 South Lake Tahoe missing person cold case

A breakthrough has been made in a South Lake Tahoe missing person cold case from the early 1970s.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[HmmMysterious]

It's not everyday that a Jane Doe gets matched to a NamUs missing person. Welcome home Donna

 

[buyerninety]

1487UFCA

states "skull was discovered in a drainage ditch near
Interstate 80 and State Highway 20."

That would seem to be somewhere in this area:
Google Maps
If you drove from South Lake Tahoe where Donna
Lass disappeared, assuming for instance that you
drove via roads following the west shore of Lake
Tahoe, that's about 110km of road to travel on.

 

[katydid23]

Donna Ann Lass

Missing since September 6, 1970 from South Lake Tahoe, El Dorado County, California.

Classification: Endangered Missing

Vital Statistics

Date Of Birth: November 3, 1944
Age at Time of Disappearance: 25 years old
Height and Weight at Time of Disappearance: 5'4"; 135 lbs.
Distinguishing Characteristics: White female. Blonde hair; blue eyes.


Circumstances of Disappearance

Donna Lass was last seen in South Lake Tahoe, she left her residence without her vehicle or personal belongings. Lass worked as a nurse at the "Sahara Hotel-Casino". Her last entry in the nurse's log book was at 1:50 a.m., and although her car was found parked at her apartment complex in nearby Stateline, she wasn't seen after leaving the Sahara.


The next day, an unknown male called her landlord and employer, stating Lass wouldn't be returning due to a family emergency. The call was a hoax, and there has been no trace of Lass ever since.

Donna Lass may be the "last" suspected victim of the Zodiac Killer, though her body has never been found. A Zodiac letter gave clues to her body, but it has never been found. A few artifacts belonging to Lass were found in what appeared to be a shallow grave, but no body surfaced.

Investigators

If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:

South Lake Tahoe Police Department
530-542-6110

Agency Case Number: 706436
NCIC Number: M-001415154

Source:

South Lake Tahoe, CA - Official Website - Donna Ann Lass

LINK:

http://www.cityofslt.us/index.aspx?NID=541

I wonder if that 'shallow grave' containing her artifacts was anywhere near where the skull was found?

 

[Diane Redfern]

Judith Ann Hakari (1946-1970) - Find a Grave...

Judith Hakari was a 23 year old nurse at Sutter Memorial Hospital in Sacramento. Judith was last seen leaving work on March 7, 1970 at 11:30p.m. Judith never made it to her apartment. Her vehicle was found in her apartment complex parking lot at Alta Arden and Markston Way. It is believed she...

es.findagrave.com

Donna and Judith, both nurses and located in Placer county. And Judith's murder has often been related to Nancy Bennallack's murder... which is solved: Richard John Davis was identified as the murderer; so is there any connection between Davis and Donna?

THE MURDERS OF HAKARI AND BENNALLACK

On Saturday, March 7th 1970 at approximately 11:30pm, registered nurse Judith Ann Hakari left the Sutter Memorial Hospital at the end of her shift for the short 10 to 15 minute drive back to her...

www.zodiacciphers.com

 

[imstilla.grandma]

The 25-year-old Lass was reportedly last seen Sept. 6, 1970, "walking with a young, blonde man near the apartment she had rented the day before and never lived in," according to a newspaper article published the year after Lass went missing. Hiring a private investigator and offering a $500 reward for information, Lass' family kept the search alive despite SLT police following "every lead to a dead end."

A postcard depicting a Sierra scene sent to authorities and a Christmas card mailed to Lass' sister raised suspicions Lass could be a victim of serial murderer the Zodiac Killer. The postcard included what appeared to be clues, leading investigators to search unsuccessfully for Lass in Tahoma and Zephyr Cove.

Skull ID'd in possible Zodiac Killer cold case

A skull found in Placer County in 1986 has been identified as that of Stateline, Nev., nurse Donna Lass, reported missing in 1970 and long thought to be a victim

www.mtdemocrat.com

 

[meanmaryjean]

Another article. So glad her family now knows something.

Skull found in California mountains ID'd as that of woman who vanished in 1970

Donna Lass was 25 years old when she disappeared and was reported missing to South Lake Tahoe police. The skull was found in 1986.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[Richard]

Donna Ann Lass, age 25
Went missing 6 September 1970.
Identified in December 2023.

It is good that this 53 year old missing person case has been partially solved by the recent identification of some previously unknown remains. It is now an unsolved homicide case. Perhaps new interest and potentially connected evidence will lead to the identification of her killer.

Anyone with information was asked to contact South Lake Tahoe police detectives at crimetips@cityofslt.us and refer to case 0070-6436.

 

[Markybug]

I did not know she had only rented her flat the day before and had not even stayed there yet?

Have not had a recent notification to this thread, even though i watch it ?

 

[Richard]

Bumping this thread up.