By Cristofer Robin Price
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – In a startling revelation that has rocked the South Lake Tahoe community, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office has identified a skull found in 1986 as belonging to Donna Lass, a registered nurse who went missing in 1971. This breakthrough comes after decades of tireless efforts by law enforcement agencies, with recent advancements in DNA technology playing a crucial role.
The Placer County Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with the Placer County District Attorney’s Office, launched a dedicated cold case team to investigate unsolved missing persons and suspicious death cases. This initiative led them to reexamine the unidentified skull discovered in 1986, prompting the team to employ cutting-edge DNA technology.
The California Department of Justice Bureau of Forensic Services successfully matched the DNA from the skull with a sample obtained from a member of Donna Lass’s family, held by the South Lake Tahoe Police Department. This conclusive match confirmed the identity of the remains, allowing authorities to notify Lass’s surviving family members of the breakthrough last week.
Details of Donna Lass’s Disappearance: Donna Lass vanished on September 6, 1970, from her job as a registered nurse at the Sahara Hotel-Casino in South Lake Tahoe. Her car was found near her apartment in Stateline, Nevada, but she mysteriously disappeared, leaving behind personal belongings. Despite extensive efforts, no one witnessed her leaving the casino that night.
In a bizarre turn of events, the day after her disappearance, an unidentified male called her workplace and landlord, falsely claiming she would be absent due to a family emergency. This call, later revealed as a hoax, added another layer of mystery to the case.
Zodiac Killer Connection: The investigation into Donna Lass’s disappearance took an ominous turn when, on March 22, 1971, a postcard received by the San Francisco Chronicle was attributed to the infamous Zodiac Killer. The letter implied involvement in Lass’s murder, but skepticism arose, and in 1999, a retired detective claimed the letter was forged.
Despite the Zodiac Killer’s notoriety, the connection to Donna Lass remains unproven, and the killer’s identity remains elusive.
Skull Discovery in 1986: In 1986, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office stumbled upon an unidentified skull off Hwy 20 near Interstate 80. With no additional evidence at the scene, the skull was preserved at the PCSO coroner’s office, categorized as an unidentified Jane Doe investigation. The breakthrough came in December 2023 when advancements in forensic technology allowed the identification of the skull as Donna Lass’s, over fifty years after her disappearance.
Ongoing Investigation: The discovery of Donna Lass’s remains has reignited the investigation into her suspected homicide. The South Lake Tahoe Police Department is urging anyone with information related to this development to come forward. Leads and tips can be sent to the SLTPD Detective Division at cybertips@cityofslt.us.
Donna Lass’s disappearance has remained a haunting mystery for 53 years. As authorities delve back into this cold case, the hope is that new information will shed light on the circumstances surrounding her tragic end.
