Skull Found Along California Highway Identified as Missing Woman from 1970

A skull discovered decades ago along a highway in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains has finally been identified as belonging to Donna Lass, a woman who went missing in 1970. This breakthrough in DNA matching has resolved the mystery surrounding Lass’s fate, confirming that she is no longer alive. However, the circumstances of her disappearance remain unknown. Law enforcement authorities are urging the public to come forward with any information related to the case.

The Placer County Sheriff’s Office revealed that the skull was initially found by a sheriff’s deputy in 1986 near Highway 20 and Interstate 80, approximately 45 miles northwest of South Lake Tahoe. The skull had been preserved at the coroner’s office all these years without identification.

Donna Lass, a 25-year-old nurse working at a casino in Stateline, Nevada, had just rented an apartment in South Lake Tahoe when she vanished. According to a news article from that period shared by the sheriff’s office, Lass left behind her car, clothes, and a bank account.

This monumental DNA match was made possible through the efforts of a recently formed cold case team in Placer County. The skull was sent to the California Justice Department, which successfully matched the DNA to a sample provided by Lass’s sister five years ago. The breakthrough in identification occurred just two weeks ago.

South Lake Tahoe Police Chief David Stevenson disclosed to NBC affiliate KCRA of Sacramento that his department has been in contact with members of the Lass family. In a statement, the police department expressed hope that this development will bring closure after years of searching.

Back in 1971, the San Francisco Chronicle received a cryptic postcard linked to the Zodiac Killer case. The postcard featured a symbol resembling the Zodiac Killer’s signature, along with the phrases “Sierra Club,” “Sought victim 12,” and “peek through the pines.” Additionally, the postcard contained the upside-down phrase “around in the snow,” as reported by The Sacramento Bee in a 1971 article. Although this led to speculation that Lass’s disappearance might be connected to the notorious serial killer, authorities have not established any concrete links between the two cases.

In 2007, acting on a tip related to the Zodiac killings, South Lake Tahoe police and other law enforcement agencies conducted a search near Lake Tahoe for a possible burial site. However, no evidence was discovered during the excavation, as reported by KCRA in 2013.

The circumstances surrounding Donna Lass’s disappearance remain a mystery. South Lake Tahoe Police Chief Stevenson emphasized that, while it has not been officially determined as a homicide, they are treating the case as such.

Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact South Lake Tahoe police detectives at crimetips@cityofslt.us, referencing case number 0070-6436.