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

[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 [email protected] 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.

 

[Richard]

Donna Ann Lass, age 25

 

[SophieRose]

Funeral services were in May 2025. Here is her obituary.

Obituary for Donna Ann Lass at George Boom Funeral Home & On-Site Crematory

Funeral Mass will be offered for Donna Ann Lass on Saturday, May 3, 2025, 1030 am, at St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church in Beresford, SD. Burial will follow at Saint John Catholic Cemetery, Beresford, SD. Per the request of Donnas family, we ask no media presence at the Funeral

www.georgeboom.com

 

[meanmaryjean]

Thank you for posting. As a fellow RN I pray for a resolution. RIP Donna Lass RN

 

[sandy betts]

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

It is my understanding that her other bones were found not too far from her skull. Notice her picture above, with the earring showing. My suspect gave me a silver earring like the one shown in that picture. It is her initial D. When it was given to me back in the late 1980s', I thought he was hinting about Darlene Ferrin, whose nickname was Dee.

 

[sandy betts]

Donna has long been considered a victim of the original Zodiac, though with little direct evidence to substantiate this. She has been thought to be the subject of the Zodiac's Lake Tahoe postcard. A later search near a Lake Tahoe development revealed the Zodiac's circle-and-cross symbol recreated in stones in a secluded wooded area (the construction has been variously described as being made of stone, wood, or a combination fo the two). An investigator into the Zodiac murders excavated the site and discovered sunglasses similar to those known to have been worn by Donna. The original postcard has been reported as being a hoax, but nothing has been proven conclusively.

The investigators who found the glasses were Harvey Hines, an ex-cop from California whom I met in 1990, and Dave Peterson, a reporter for the Vallejo and Napa newspapers. I have not read anywhere that the postcard was a hoax. Zodiac gave the correct clues to where her bones were found, in that postcard. He used a hole punch as a clue on that card. The glasses were found at Claire Tappen Lodge near Shingle Springs. I went there a few times looking for Donna's body. I am very sure my suspect killed Donna Lass. He gave me an earring that matched the one she wore, in one of her pictures! My suspect claims to be the Zodiac; he is the same man who followed me in Vallejo/Napa in 1969. He worked in construction, which that postcard shows, men working in construction! Not only was the card a taunt, but it also gave clues that have been overlooked.

 

[Richard]

Donna's case remains an active investigation with the FBI and the South Lake Tahoe and Placer County Police Departments. The South Lake Tahoe Police Department encourages anyone with information regarding Donna’s disappearance to contact their detective division or the FBI.

South Lake Tahoe Police Department
1352 Johnson Blvd
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
Phone: 530-542-6100
Fax: 530-542-6146

LINK:

Police Department | South Lake Tahoe, CA - Official Website

www.cityofslt.us

 

[sandy betts]

Donna's case remains an active investigation with the FBI and the South Lake Tahoe and Placer County Police Departments. The South Lake Tahoe Police Department encourages anyone with information regarding Donna’s disappearance to contact their detective division or the FBI.

South Lake Tahoe Police Department
1352 Johnson Blvd
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
Phone: 530-542-6100
Fax: 530-542-6146

LINK:

Police Department | South Lake Tahoe, CA - Official Website

www.cityofslt.us

Thank you, Richard. I need to find where I put the earring before contacting the police or FBI. I did take a picture of it and have that, but I'm pretty sure they would want to see the earring. I put it and three other earrings in what I thought was a safe place! The other earrings were left for me, in my car in Napa, on either September 28th or 29th, 1969, which tells me Zodiac killed two other females, other than Betty Lou, Darlene, Cecelia Shepard, and Cheri Jo Bates. I have sent emails to investigators. asking if Betty Lou, Darlene, Cecelia, or Cheri Jo, were missing earrings, none replied.

The other earrings left for me were a pair of gold filigree earrings. that looked like they were removed from pierced earrings, the other was a tiny screw on gold cross, which I assumed could belong to Cheri Jo Bates. There was also a small girl's wristwatch, which I believe was Cecelia's. All of that jewelry was found at the bottom of a large ammo can, which was filled with felt-tip pens, mostly dark colors, except one white and one reddish orange, and one stainless-steel protractor. There was also one red plastic heart, with the name Cecelia on the front, which had a love poem on the back. I lent that to an SF PI who was helping me with my suspect. he misplaced the red heart! (He died from drowning)

I also sent Bryan Hartnell an email , asking if he remembered Cecelia having a red heart necklace or a wristwatch with a gray leather band, but he never replied. I asked Napa Sheriff's Department if they would please check their evidence to see if they have Cecelia's wristwatch, because I have one that I believe was hers! (There are two specks of what could be blood) All that was left for me, including Zodiac's killing costume, sounds too good to be true, which is why I don't think they believe me. I can't blame them, because I wouldn't believe it either, if it hadn't happened to me! But you would think Napa would want to see the evidence I still have? People do lie, but evidence doesn't!