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First development in The Zodiac case in many years

Bad Things: True Crime・15 minutes read

The Zodiac case involving Donna Lass, a potential victim, remains a mystery despite recent DNA identification. Genetic genealogy led to the resolution of a related murder case involving Brynn Rainey and Carol Andersen, linking suspect Joseph Holt to the crimes.

Insights

  • Donna Lass, a potential victim of the Zodiac Killer, disappeared mysteriously in 1970 from her workplace, with a suspicious impersonation suggesting foul play and a lack of thorough investigation due to external factors.
  • The use of genetic genealogy in the cases of Brynn Rainey and Carol Andersen led to the identification of Joseph Holt as the suspect, showcasing the power of DNA evidence in solving cold cases and providing closure to long-standing mysteries.

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Recent questions

  • Who was Donna Lass and what happened to her?

    Donna Lass was a potential victim of the Zodiac Killer who disappeared in 1970 from the Sahara Tahoe Hotel & Casino. She was described as friendly, reliable, and had plans for the future. Donna disappeared after being logged out of work early, with a mysterious caller impersonating her landlord claiming she left due to a family illness. The case was not thoroughly investigated at the time due to bad weather conditions, but recent DNA testing in December 2023 identified Donna Lass after 53 years of being missing.

  • What is the potential connection between Donna Lass and the Zodiac Killer?

    The potential connection between Donna Lass and the Zodiac Killer is based on a postcard received by authorities. The Zodiac Killer sent cryptic messages hinting at unknown victims, including a postcard to a journalist. French engineer Fayçal Ziraoui claims to have solved Zodiac ciphers, linking a suspect named Lawrence Kane, who had connections to Donna Lass and lived near other Zodiac crime scenes. The recent DNA testing that identified Donna Lass has brought new attention to this potential connection.

  • How was Joseph Holt linked to the murders of Brynn Rainey and Carol Andersen?

    Joseph Holt was linked to the murders of Brynn Rainey and Carol Andersen through genetic genealogy. Brynn Rainey, a casino worker, was found murdered in 1977, sexually abused and strangled. Her case was eventually linked to another victim, Carol Andersen. DNA evidence from the crime scenes matched Holt's genetic profile, leading to his identification as the suspect in the murders. This use of genetic genealogy provided a potential resolution to the long-standing mystery surrounding the murders of Brynn and Carol.

  • What led to the identification of Donna Lass after 53 years?

    The identification of Donna Lass after 53 years was made possible through DNA testing. The sheriff's office partnered with the Placer County District Attorney's Office to create a cold case team, which led to the breakthrough. Donna Lass was found through a DNA match with her sister's sample that had been kept on file. Despite the closure brought to the Lass family, the cause of Donna's death remains unknown, with ongoing investigations by South Lake Tahoe police.

  • What hindered the investigation into Donna Lass's disappearance initially?

    The investigation into Donna Lass's disappearance was hindered initially by bad weather conditions. Donna disappeared after being logged out of work early, with no one seeing her leave. A mysterious caller impersonated her landlord, claiming she left due to a family illness. Due to the challenging weather conditions at the time, the case was not thoroughly investigated. However, recent advancements in DNA testing have brought new leads and potential resolutions to the long-standing mystery surrounding Donna Lass's disappearance.

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Summary

00:00

Unsolved Zodiac case: Donna Lass disappearance

  • The Zodiac serial killer case is a mix of conspiracy theories, suspects, and the actual body count.
  • Donna Lass, a potential Zodiac victim, disappeared in 1970 from the Sahara Tahoe Hotel & Casino.
  • Donna Lass was described as friendly, reliable, and had plans for the future.
  • Donna Lass disappeared after being logged out of work early, with no one seeing her leave.
  • A mysterious caller impersonated Donna's landlord, claiming she left due to a family illness.
  • The disappearance of Donna Lass was not investigated thoroughly due to bad weather conditions.
  • The Zodiac Killer sent cryptic messages hinting at unknown victims, including a postcard to a journalist.
  • The Zodiac Killer's potential connection to Donna Lass is based on a postcard received by authorities.
  • French engineer Fayçal Ziraoui claims to have solved Zodiac ciphers, linking a suspect named Lawrence Kane.
  • Lawrence Kane, a potential Zodiac suspect, had connections to Donna Lass and lived near other Zodiac crime scenes.

14:44

Cold Case Team Solves Decades-Old Murders

  • The sheriff's office partnered with the Placer County District Attorney's Office to create a cold case team, leading to the identification of Donna Lass through DNA testing in December 2023.
  • Donna Lass, who had been missing for 53 years, was found through a DNA match with her sister's sample that had been kept on file.
  • Despite the closure brought to the Lass family, the cause of Donna's death remains unknown, with ongoing investigations by South Lake Tahoe police.
  • Brynn Rainey, a casino worker, was found murdered in 1977, sexually abused and strangled, leading to a thorough investigation that eventually linked her case to another victim, Carol Andersen.
  • Genetic genealogy was used to identify Joseph Holt as the suspect in the murders of Brynn and Carol, with DNA evidence from the crime scenes matching his genetic profile, providing a potential resolution to the long-standing mystery.
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