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

[kylie]

It sounds like they should redo this investigation into her disappearance completely. How sloppy can you get? Not contacting roommates,etc?

 

[Richard]

Has anyone heard anything regarding this case lately? At one time, an Air Force Officer thought that he could locate her grave using satilite imagery.

Updated Doe network Link:
http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/836dfca.html

 

[Fukiyama]

Has anyone heard anything regarding this case lately? At one time, an Air Force Officer thought that he could locate her grave using satilite imagery.

Updated Doe network Link:
http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/836dfca.html

Richard, I think the colonel has been debunked? See a few posts up in this thread.

 

[Richard]

I have doubts about Zodiac's claim of responsibility in Donna's disappearance.

There are some possible links because Donna had been a nurse at the hospital near the Presidio, San Francisco (near the site of Paul Stine's murder), and she supposedly had flown to Riverdale with a man who was a private pilot. But those connections are rather circumstantial.

Her body has never been found and it has never been proven that she was actually murdered. This could be a case of "Zodiac" claiming a crime that he had not actually committed.

 

[morf13]

I have doubts about Zodiac's claim of responsibility in Donna's disappearance.

There are some possible links because Donna had been a nurse at the hospital near the Presidio, San Francisco (near the site of Paul Stine's murder), and she supposedly had flown to Riverdale with a man who was a private pilot. But those connections are rather circumstantial.

Her body has never been found and it has never been proven that she was actually murdered. This could be a case of "Zodiac" claiming a crime that he had not actually committed.

I tend to believe that she was a Zodiac victim. Her family got a MYSTERIOUS and ANONYMOUS letter/xmas card after her death,as seen here in the photos,. Doesnt mean Z was her killer,but i think he at least wrote the card to her family,and the PEEK THRU THE PINES card too with the crosshair logo on it.

 

[Richard]

I tend to believe that she was a Zodiac victim. Her family got a MYSTERIOUS and ANONYMOUS letter/xmas card after her death,as seen here in the photos,. Doesnt mean Z was her killer,but i think he at least wrote the card to her family,and the PEEK THRU THE PINES card too with the crosshair logo on it.

It is very interesting. I had seen and read about the "Peek through the Pines" message which was a sort of Collage cut out from San Francisco Newspapers. But I had not heard of the Christmas Card.

I tend to think that this was more likely a hoax or copycat crime than an actual Zodiac murder. For one thing, by this time, Zodiac and his signature were rather well known and could have been a fake. There is also no piece of Paul Stine's shirt as an authenticator.

The Christmas Card was sent in December three months after Donna disappeared. It is written in rather fancy cursive handwriting, unlike the printing of all his other work.

I think that the evidence would point to the conclusion that Donna was indeed abducted and likely killed by someone.

But was it someone who wanted to be like Zodiac, or wanted Zodiac to get the blame? Did the origional Zodiac actually write the note and card to take credit for Donna's disappearance (even though someone else may have done it)? Or was this an actual Zodiac murder?

Has any DNA testing been done on the two stamps on the envelope?

 

[morf13]

It is very interesting. I had seen and read about the "Peek through the Pines" message which was a sort of Collage cut out from San Francisco Newspapers. But I had not heard of the Christmas Card.

I tend to think that this was more likely a hoax or copycat crime than an actual Zodiac murder. For one thing, by this time, Zodiac and his signature were rather well known and could have been a fake. There is also no piece of Paul Stine's shirt as an authenticator.

The Christmas Card was sent in December three months after Donna disappeared. It is written in rather fancy cursive handwriting, unlike the printing of all his other work.

I think that the evidence would point to the conclusion that Donna was indeed abducted and likely killed by someone.

But was it someone who wanted to be like Zodiac, or wanted Zodiac to get the blame? Did the origional Zodiac actually write the note and card to take credit for Donna's disappearance (even though someone else may have done it)? Or was this an actual Zodiac murder?

Has any DNA testing been done on the two stamps on the envelope?

The theory is that Zodiac wrote in cursive(possibly his own real writing)on the xmas card. Could have been a hoax,or maybe Zodiac didnt kill her,but took credit anyway and wrote the card to the family,who knows. I dont know of DNA testing being done on it.

 

[Richard]

September 6, 2010 will mark the 40th anniversary of the disappearance of Donna Lass. The case remains unsolved.

 

[Kat]

Donna is not listed in NamUs at this time.

http://www.recordcourier.com/article/20070426/NEWS/70426002

Thursday, April 26, 2007

Zodiac victim theory explored
Could the burial site of a possible Zodiac victim, missing since 1970 after a night shift at a Stateline casino, be identified by a retired Air Force satellite manager living in Morgan Hill?

Clifton Calvez, primarily using the Internet, believes he knows the exact spot in the Lake Tahoe Basin where Donna Lass is buried. Authorities have not ignored him and are waiting for the snow to melt.

I wonder what ever became of this?

 

[morf13]

It was a dead end.

 

[Richard]

If one does an on-line sort/search for Donna Lass, most of the hits are of various Zodiac Websites, or mention is made regarding a possible Zodiac connection.

Here is an interesting website which names one Jack W. Tarrance, Jr. as a potential suspect in the disappearance of Donna Lass.

Note that the author also tries to link him to quite a number of other cases as well, including the Zodiac murders.


Website title: Updated Timeline of Jack and Unsolved Murders - Message Board

LINK:

http://www.nanetteb.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=4855806

 

[Richard]

If one does an on-line sort/search for Donna Lass, most of the hits are of various Zodiac Websites, or mention is made regarding a possible Zodiac connection.

Here is an interesting website which names one Jack W. Tarrance, Jr. as a potential suspect in the disappearance of Donna Lass.

Note that the author also tries to link him to quite a number of other cases as well, including the Zodiac murders.


Website title: Updated Timeline of Jack and Unsolved Murders - Message Board

LINK:

http://www.nanetteb.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=4855806

--------------------------------------

The website in question implies that one Jack W. Tarrance, Jr. is a very prolific serial killer with an active career spanning some 68 years from 1942 through 2005 (basically from the time he was 14 through age 84).

Integral to this theory is that Jack Tarrance could be the Zodiac Killer, and so all of the known or suspected Zodiac murders and writings are included in the time line.

Here is an excerpt from the timeline which pertains to Donna Lass:

September 6, 1970 – Donna Lass Dissappearance – So. Lake Tahoe – Jack’s daughter works at the same casino as Donna Lass.
22. October 12, 1970 13th Victim Card Z83
23. October 27, 1970 Halloween Card Z57 – Z59
1971 per slide 108 jack starts a new job driving a truck for a linen service and this is where he meets nora: Jack moves in with Nora in Lake Tahoe, but keeps his house in San Jose until 1972. This coincides with the rolls of film from 1971, and the dark room needed to transfer the Black Dahlia pictures to a new roll.
25. March 31, 1971 LA Times Letter Z60 – Z61
26. March 22, 1971 Donna Lass Card

 

[Markybug]

Bump for this still missing nurse . 43 years...


Mark

 

[marycarney]

Special interest in missing nurses.........

 

[vermontaigne]

Well, the Zodiac sites mention Donna Lass and Dr. Charles Hollingsworth, who disappeared 7 weeks later. But there's also Richard Strehle, missing in 1973, which really comprises a pretty remarkable record of well-connected people missing in a couple years, for a small community.

 

[STANDREID]

I just checked Steve Hodel's Zodiac book and Donna Lass is not in the index - that's surprise.

 

[Richard]

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

 

[STANDREID]

Do we know for sure that the call was a hoax, in other words, that it wasn't from someone who actually knew what happened? Obviously, it was a lie except for the part that she wouldn't be returning.

 

[deca]

What were the clues that were given?

Also, do we know if her hair was long or short at the time?

There is a doe that was found in southern Oregon in 1971. She had a ring with "AL" on it. I doubt it is the Donna, but I always wonder...

 

[Richard]

Good questions. I posted the above as it appears on the website.

I do not know why police believe that the call was a hoax. Personally, I feel that the caller was the one responsible or involved in her disappearance. Obviously the information about a family emergency was a lie - possibly meant to allay suspician about her absence for a period of time.

The bits of information posted always beg other questions. For instance, "Her last entry in the nurse's log book was at 1:50 a.m...." Does this mean she left work about that time? What were her shift hours? What kind of log entries did she usually make? Were they hourly, or just as things happened? The statement does not tell us when Donna left the Cassino.

Here is another example; "... her car was found parked at her apartment complex in nearby Stateline..."

So did she normally drive to work? Were the keys in the car? Her purse, clothing, etc? Again, the statement does not tell us much.

And Items belonging to Donna found in a grave??? Were they actually hers? Was the "grave" found where "Zodiac" or some caller said it would be? How thoroughly was that area searched? Could it be that a killer buried her in a secluded spot, and then decided to bury other items of hers nearby to get rid of evidence? Maybe the police stopped looking after finging the buried objects...

There probably are other clues which the police investigators have regarding Donna's disappearance, but have not released.

Regarding the "Zodiac" letter, it could be a number of different scenarios, as I have mentioned in a previous post in this thread. It is interesting that Donna Lass was previously employed at a hospital at the Presidio, in San Francisco, CA. - near the Paul Stine murder site. Some feel that there was more than just a coincidence in Donna's disappearance and Zodiac's aparent interest in her.