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

Five Significant Renovations That Transformed the White House

President Donald Trump is embarking on an ambitious project that will see…

Live at 10 a.m.: Trooper Steve Discusses School Bus Safety with Osceola Deputy

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – Today’s coverage takes us back to Osceola County,…

Reviving History: Discover the 21-Year Journey to Restore Monticello’s Hidden Treasures

MONTICELLO, Ill. — After years of dedication, one man’s passion project in…

Grainger County Resident Faces $57,000 Repayment Following Social Security Overpayment Ruling

In Grainger County, Tennessee, a woman with disabilities has been hit with…

Texas Governor Mobilizes State Guard to Tackle Homeless Camp Cleanup

In a recent announcement from Austin, Texas Governor Greg Abbott revealed that…

Colorado Cold Case Breakthrough: Missing Woman’s Remains Identified After 5 Years

DENVER (KDVR) — In a development that’s been awaited for seven long…

Columbia County Arrest Sparks Urgent Action Against Human Sex Trafficking in the CSRA

AUGUSTA, Ga. – An Augusta woman finds herself behind bars following serious…

USDA Reopens Field Offices, Bringing Much-Needed Support to Farmers

As the government shutdown persists, a glimmer of relief is emerging for…

Yoders Country Market Implements Rounding Policy to Nearest Nickel

BULLS GAP, Tenn. (WJHL) — Shoppers using cash at Yoders Country Market…

Celebrating 15 Years: Illini Service Dogs Continue to Transform Lives

URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — A unique group at the University of Illinois…

Suspected Bank Robber Apprehended in Jasper County

JASPER COUNTY, S.C. – Authorities in Jasper County have apprehended a suspect…

Fugitive Apprehended in Sanford: Key Arrest in Months-Long Homicide Investigation

SANFORD, Fla. – A suspect in a murder case that took place…