Identified! UT - Millard Co, WhtFem UP63967, in a shallow grave under a juniper tree, Aug'79 - Sandra Matott

[Bit of hope]

I think @Melt71 actually solved it before the Willoughsby person cited in the article. Melt71 should get credit!

I tend to agree, but we will never know what happened in the background. I'm sure lot's of other people were passionate to solve this case. All I know is that @Melt71 was spot on. She nailed it!

 

[coffeeandacig]

Congratulations @Melt71 !!!
I have no doubt that your follow up on Sandra Matott was a pivotal part of putting the puzzle pieces together for getting her name back!

 

[MadMcGoo]

Way to go Melt!

Rest peacefully now Sandra. May justice be sought and served in your death.

 

[bchadcrandall]

Thank you for helping find my grandma

Per my above posts #11 and#16. I've not had a situation with so many matching facts before. I'm gratified that after I submitted on 5 Jan, I received a response on 6 Jan (just the usual, but still more than normal). Now Namus shows updates were done on the MP/UID on 6 Jan and 7 Jan respectively. No updates from Namus but I don't expect any and I'm satisfied my potential match was taken seriously.

Can anyone check the R/o list please to see if Sandra has formally been r/o for this UID?

 

[Melt71]

Thank you for helping find my grandma

However it happened, I am so glad your family has some answers. My condolences to you all.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

https://www.fox13now.com/news/local-news/42-year-old-cold-case-solved-by-slc-police

 

[MadMcGoo]

Police solve Utah cold case from 1979

Her husband is suspected of being involved in her death. He died in California in 1999.


A ring and a watch belonging to Sandra Matott were found next to skeletal remains in Millard County in 1979.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

“We are happy the case is now closed because it brings us some answers,” Haymes said in the release. “As a family, we are happy about this development, but also sad it took this long. Forty-two years is a long time. We are happy that the investigators never closed the case and continued to work on it so we could reach this point.”

Although the Utah Medical Examiner’s Office was unable to determine Sandra’s cause of death, detectives from SLCPD and the Millard County Sheriff’s Office “believe Warren Matott likely had more information about the disappearance and death of Sandra Matott,” although there was “never any probable cause to charge Warren Matott in connection to this case.”

“I’d just like to say that this case has been very rewarding, and very eye-opening as to resources that are out there such as NamUs,” Bennett said. “Without the resources provided through NamUs, this would not have happened at all. So I’m very, very grateful to have been able to be a part of it.”
Salt Lake City Police Department, Millard County Sheriff’s Office close missing person case from 1979