Authorities in Riverside County, California, have identified remains discovered 45 years ago as those of Thelma Gaston, a millionaire who disappeared in 1981.

In 1981, a wood gatherer near Sugar Loaf Mountain in California found a shallow grave containing the severely decomposed remains of a woman, according to a press release from the Riverside County Sheriff's Office. Initially, the condition of the body prevented identification. A breakthrough occurred in 2022 when the Forensic Services Bureau of the Riverside County Sheriff's Office received funding to review unidentified person cases. Using investigative genetic genealogy techniques, experts analyzed DNA from the remains and ultimately identified the victim as Thelma Gaston.

The mountainous area where Thelma Gaston's body was found. *Photo: KREX5*

Thelma, then 80 years old, disappeared on 28/6/1981. A note at her Century City home stated she had gone to look for her pet cat. The location where her body was later discovered was a mountainous area about 130 km from her home. Thelma built a fortune exceeding 20 million USD by buying and selling foreclosed properties. However, she experienced significant personal losses, with both her husband and son dying in 1957.

The identification of Thelma's remains has closed her decades-long missing person case. The individual responsible for her death had already been convicted and served many years in prison.

At the time of her disappearance, Thelma was in a relationship with Lawrence Remsen, a 39-year-old carpet salesman. During the investigation, police found documents purportedly signed by Thelma, granting Lawrence legal power of attorney over her, along with a letter supposedly written by Thelma stating she had left "to enjoy life". Investigators later concluded that these documents and the letter were likely forged.

After Thelma's disappearance, Lawrence attempted to withdraw about 100,000 USD from her bank accounts and sold some of her properties. Several months later, border patrol agents arrested Lawrence as he tried to re-enter the US from Mexico.

Testifying in court, Lawrence claimed he found Thelma dead and disposed of her body at sea to steal her assets. The judge disbelieved that story, calling Lawrence an "incompetent scoundrel". Despite authorities not having found the victim's body at the time, Lawrence was convicted of second-degree murder, receiving a life sentence with a minimum term of 15 years, plus an additional 6 years for forgery. He is currently serving his sentence at the California Men's Colony.

Lawrence, now 83, has been denied parole 4 times since 2016 and remains incarcerated at the California Men's Colony.

Tue Anh (according to People, NBC News)