Lake Mead remains identified as missing San Diego nurse from 1980s cold case
Share this @internewscast.com

The remains of a San Diego woman who was reported missing in 1986 have been identified after being discovered at Lake Mead years later, the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office has announced.

Carol Ann Riley, who was a nurse at Scripps Clinic in San Diego, went missing in 1986. She had been dating a man she knew as Robert Howard Smith and had plans to break up with him during a dinner date on the day she disappeared, according to the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO).

Smith informed the police that Riley had canceled their dinner plans. Shortly after, Smith vanished, leaving town two days later. Police investigations revealed that “Robert Howard Smith” was actually Robert Dean Weeks, who frequently used aliases and had a history of deceit. They also found that his ex-wife, Patricia Weeks, had gone missing from Clark County on April 25, 1968, not long after their divorce was finalized.

Weeks had also been involved with another woman, a real estate agent named Cynthia Jabour, who vanished. She too had a dinner date with Weeks and planned to end their relationship. Her last sighting was on October 5, 1980.

A business associate of Weeks, James Shaw, was last seen on May 5, 1971. He vanished after reportedly having an altercation with Weeks, and his bloodstained car was discovered abandoned in a parking lot in Las Vegas. The bodies of these individuals were never located, according to an MCSO post on social media earlier this week.

The case involving Weeks gained attention in April 1987, when it was featured on the television show Unsolved Mysteries. A warrant for Weeks’ arrest had been issued related to fraud and embezzlement charges from his business. Due to responses from viewers of the show, Weeks was eventually located and apprehended in Arizona.

On May 16, 1987, a person rounding up steers around Bonelli Landing at Lake Mead found a human skull on the ground. A further search resulted in the discovery of additional remains buried in a shallow grave and wrapped in a blanket. At the time, the remains were those of a female thought to be between 20 to 40 years old. Attempts to identify her were unsuccessful; however, her dental report was placed into a system, and she was listed as Jane Doe, MCSO said.

In 1988, Weeks was convicted of the murder of his wife, Patricia Weeks, and Cynthia Jabour, despite their bodies never being found. He was never charged with the murders of Riley and Shaw. He was sentenced to life in prison in Nevada and died there on September 20, 1996.

In February, investigators sent portions of the unidentified person’s clothing and the blanket in which she was wrapped to a lab in Arizona in an attempt to obtain DNA, but the efforts were unsuccessful. Investigators then learned that her skeletal remains had been cremated in 2016 and her ashes scattered at an unknown location.

On July 15, investigators were contacted by personnel at the Mohave County Medical Examiner’s Office after an email received indicated that a forensic odontologist from the Missing and Unidentified Persons Unit, California Department of Justice, had worked on a dental comparison of the Jane Doe victim and Riley, as a result of their comparison, they positively identified Jane Doe as Carol Ann Riley, MCSO said on Tuesday.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Effingham County’s Remarkable Journey: Fourth Consecutive State Quarterfinals Appearance

SPRINGFIELD, Ga. — The Effingham County Lady Rebels have secured their place…

Arizona Takes Legal Action Against US House: Grijalva’s Swearing-In Delayed

On Tuesday, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, initiated legal action…

Forensic Experts Investigate Human Skull Discovered at JC Golf Course; DNA Analysis Next Step

In Johnson City, Tennessee, police are delving into the discovery of a…

Holocaust Exhibit Premieres in Champaign, Bringing Museum Experience to Visitors

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) – In a significant collaborative effort, three organizations came…

Revolutionary Champaign Clinic Addresses Common Yet Overlooked Disorders Affecting Millions

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — A groundbreaking clinic in Central Illinois is now…

Suspect in Waffle House Shooting Surrenders to JCPD: Latest Updates on the Case

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — On Tuesday, the Johnson City Police Department…

American Airlines Pilots Mistake Misunderstanding for Cockpit Security Threat

In a surprising incident on Monday, a flight destined for Los Angeles…

Port Wentworth Ice Cove Celebrates Milestone with Beam Topping Ceremony

PORT WENTWORTH, Ga. – Tuesday marked a significant milestone for Port Wentworth’s…

Big Time Rush Set to Perform in Champaign

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — A renowned boy band is heading to Champaign,…

New Bill Seeks to Provide Compensation for Victims of Crimes Committed by Undocumented Migrants

In a recent legislative move, Florida State Representative Berny Jacques, a Republican…

Mastermind Behind Northern California’s Elaborate Lego Theft Ring Apprehended: A True Crime Story

A man from Northern California has been apprehended in connection with an…

Israel Confirms Identities of Two Hostages as U.S. Diplomat Vance Readies for Netanyahu Meeting

In Tel Aviv, Israel, a significant development unfolded as the office of…