Missing Tahoe casino nurse Donna Lass finally identified

The remains of a long-missing Tahoe nurse, who is sometimes linked to the Zodiac Killer by amateur sleuths, have finally been identified.

Donna Lass, 25, went missing on Sept. 6, 1970, after leaving a late shift at the Sahara Tahoe casino, now the Golden Nugget, in Stateline, Nevada, where she worked as a first aid nurse. It was believed she was last seen with a young-looking blonde man “near the apartment she had rented the day before and never lived in,” the Sacramento Bee reported in February 1971. Around the time she disappeared, the Bee also reported that a man called her workplace and her landlord on Sept. 7 to say “she would not be available because of illness in her family.”

“[Lass’] sisters told police there had been no illness,” the Bee wrote.

It was clear something, or someone, had suddenly interrupted Lass’ life. Detectives discovered her car and clothes at her residence, and her bank account was undisturbed.

In March 1971, the San Francisco Chronicle received a postcard in the style of the Zodiac Killer with an image of the Tahoe area and Zodiac’s signature crosshairs mark. On it were the phrases “Sought victim 12” and “peek through the pines.” Although the Zodiac Killer did send numerous letters to the Chronicle, it’s not clear whether this postcard was from him or an imposter. It doesn’t explicitly reference Lass, but almost immediately her disappearance was linked to the postcard. 

“Investigators are trying to decipher the note and to decide whether Zodiac does refer to the missing nurse,” United Press International reported at the time. Although Lass has never been listed as an official Zodiac victim by law enforcement, her name still often comes up in discussions about him. 

Years went by with no sign of Lass. In 1986, a human skull was discovered by the Placer County Sheriff’s Office of Highway 20 and Interstate 80 in Placer County. Investigators kept it stored away, awaiting the day when forensic technology could identify the remains. Recently, the sheriff’s office teamed up with the Placer County District Attorney’s Office to form a cold case team; that team sent the skull for testing. A DNA profile was created and matched to one of Lass’ family members who had previously volunteered a sample to keep on file. 

“Last week, South Lake Tahoe PD was able to notify Donna Lass’ surviving family members that she had been located,” the sheriff’s office wrote in a news release. “We are extremely grateful that this team effort was able to bring closure to the Lass family.”

Answers, however, still await the woman’s family. Police did not reveal how Lass died or even if foul play is suspected. The sheriff’s office said no other evidence was found with the skull, and South Lake Tahoe police are still actively investigating the case. Anyone with information can contact South Lake Tahoe detectives at cybertips@cityofslt.us.

Dec 27, 2023