Accident – Death – Obituary News :

Skull Found in California Mountains Identified as Missing Woman from 1970

DNA Match Solves Mystery, But Questions Remain

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A skull discovered along a highway in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains several decades ago has finally been identified as belonging to Donna Lass, a woman who went missing in 1970. The Placer County Sheriff’s Office announced on Wednesday that a DNA match had confirmed Lass’s fate, but the circumstances surrounding her disappearance still remain a mystery. As the investigation continues, officials are urging the public to come forward with any information they may have.

The skull was initially found by a sheriff’s deputy in 1986 along Highway 20 and Interstate 80, approximately 45 miles northwest of South Lake Tahoe. It was preserved at the coroner’s office as an unidentified person. Lass, who was 25 years old at the time, had recently rented an apartment in South Lake Tahoe and worked as a nurse at a nearby casino. Her disappearance was reported to the South Lake Tahoe police in 1970, but despite an extensive investigation, no leads were found.

Thanks to a newly formed cold case team in Placer County, the skull was sent to the California Justice Department for DNA testing. The sample provided by Lass’s sister five years ago was finally matched, confirming the identity of the remains. The discovery was made just two weeks ago.

The South Lake Tahoe police have been in contact with members of the Lass family and released a statement expressing hope that this development will bring some closure after many years of searching.

In 1971, a cryptic postcard was sent to the San Francisco Chronicle, featuring a symbol resembling that of the infamous Zodiac Killer. The postcard also contained the words “Sierra Club,” “Sought victim 12,” “peek through the pines,” and the upside-down phrase “around in the snow.” While this led to speculation that Lass’s disappearance could be linked to the Zodiac Killer, authorities have not established any connection between the two cases.

In 2007, acting on a tip related to the Zodiac killings, authorities conducted a search near Lake Tahoe for a possible burial site but found nothing. The fate of Donna Lass remains uncertain, and although her case is being treated as a potential homicide, no definitive evidence has been found.

Anyone with information regarding Donna Lass’s disappearance is urged to contact the South Lake Tahoe police detectives at crimetips@cityofslt.us, referencing case number 0070-6436.

This article was originally published on [source] in British English.

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