NV NV - Gerald Layne, 32, Reno, 6 Jan 1961

[Coffee56]

MISSING
Missing Person / NamUs #MP61535Gerald Eugene Layne, Male, White / Caucasian
Date of Last ContactJanuary 6, 1961
Missing FromReno, Nevada

Case Information

Demographics
Missing Age32 Years
Current Age92 Years
First Name Gerald
Middle NameEugene
Last NameLayne
Nickname/Alias--

SexMale
Height5' 7" (67 Inches)
Weight175 lbs
Race / EthnicityWhite / Caucasian

Circumstances
Date of Last ContactJanuary 6, 1961
NamUs Case CreatedNovember 12, 2019
Last Known Location Map
LocationReno, Nevada
CountyWashoe County
Missing From Tribal LandYes
Primary Residence on Tribal Land--
Circumstances of DisappearanceGerald left Reno, Nevada to go to a poker game in Placerville, California on 01/06/1961. His vehicle was later found in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Gerald has not been seen or heard from since.
Physical Description
Hair ColorBrown
Head Hair Description--
Body Hair Description--
Facial Hair Description--
Left Eye ColorBrown
Right Eye ColorBrown
Eye Description--
Distinctive Physical Features
No Information Entered

Clothing and Accessories
Item
Description
Clothing
Brown suit and a white shirt

Jewelry
Was wearing a 1 1/4 carat diamond ring and jade cuff links.

Additional Case Info

Transportation
1960

StyleSedan
ColorWhite
State--
License Plate--
Expiration Year--
CommentsVehicle was described by family in 1961 as a 1960 "American made" white sedan.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

 

[victoriarobinson642]

1980UMCA
Could he be this John Doe found later that year in California?

 

[TSL7584]

Gerald Eugene Layne (1925-1961) - Find a Grave...

Gerald Layne of Reno, Nevada vanished on January 6, 1961 en route to a card game in Placerville, Nevada. He was wearing a 1 1/4 carat diamond ring, green jade cuff links cut in the shape of a Buddha statue, and was carrying $15,000. ----- Gerald Layne was the Riverside's casino manager in...

www.findagrave.com

 

[HopeRains]

Posting some articles here as found on newspapers.com

In the days preceding his disappearance, it appears Mr. Layne had applied with the State Gambling Control Board for full Nevada gambling privileges, requesting 5% interest in the Riverside Hotel along with another named individual out of Oregon. The application was to go before the board on Jan 4, 1961. It was stayed and pushed to the next meeting (which would be after Mr. Layne's disappearance).

The Reno Gazette, 03 Jan 61, pg 1 23 Applicants Seek Gaming LIcenses (snip)

The Reno Gazette, 4 Jan 61 (snip)

Articles regarding his disappearance:

Reno Gazette, 09 Jan 61, p1 - this article indicates LV police told Reno police he had returned to Southern Nevada (?)

Reno Gazette 12 Jan 61, pg 19 - also references the gaming application

Reno Gazette Journal 14 Jan 61, pg 9 Board Ousts Missing Reno Gaming Executive - snip. The article indicates that investigation into applied for Nevada full gambling privileges resulted in the finding of a criminal record for Mr. Layne in 1959 in Tulsa, OK. Application was denied.

Reno Gazette, 16 Feb 61, pg 10 Public Asked for Help in Layne Search - additional photos + more detail on cuff links

In between the above article and the one posted below, there are additional articles (I'm not posting) referencing assignment of a trustee due to Mr. Layne's properties in Washoe and Clark County, NV, and also in CA. Other article in February 63 regarding bankrupcy of Riverside Corporation and releasing assets, with Teamsters Pension Fund loan valuing real property at 2.75M.

Reno Gazette, 10 Aug 63, Pg 13 - 2nd account and report filed by Mr. Layne's ex-wife; a third account was filed in Oct 64 with steps being taken to clear his estate per a 1968 article, and additional legal notices through 1969.

 

[alb1on]

The Riverside, where Layne was casino manager now is the Wild River Grille and the site at The Riverside - Wild River Grille contains an interesting piece on its history which includes;
"Gerald Layne, the Riverside’s casino manager, went missing on January 6, 1961, while en route to a card game in Placerville, California. His car was found a few days later in the parking lot at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe. Police repeatedly questioned Las Vegas promoter Glen Lucas, one of Layne’s regular poker partners. Lucas, who was seen with the victim outside of Harrah’s, was Layne’s last known contact."

This seems to suggest that Lucas was with him at the location he disappeared from and was regarded as the main suspect. The same information appears on Layne's memorial at Gerald Eugene Layne (1925-1961) - Find a Grave....

The other interesting character in all this is Bill Miller, the owner of the Riverside. He started in Vegas in the late 40s and was deep with known mafia associates, one of whom - Joseph Statcher - was a minority partner in the Riverside. They may have had nothing to do with Layne going missing but were certainly not men to cross. Bill Miller has a wikipedia entry (albeit a whitewashed one) and died in 2002.

 

[victoriarobinson642]

Gerald Eugene Layne – The Charley Project

Added to the Charley Project.

 

[John/Jane Doe]

Gerald Eugene Layne – The Charley Project