Identified...Identified...Identified
Date of Discovery: August 14, 1979
Location of Discovery: Las Vegas, Clark County, Neva
Estimated Date of Death: 3-4 hours prior - up to 24 hours
State of Remains: Recognizable face
Cause of Death: Homicide by stabbing
Estimated Age:
15-25 years old
Race:
White
Sex:
Female
Height:
5'6"
Weight:
103 lbs., measured
Hair:
Brown, wavy.
Eye Color:
Brown
Distinguishing Marks/Features:
Well manicured nails with red nail polish on hands and feet. Ears were not pierced.
Dentals
: Available. Edentulous with an upper denture. No lower denture recovered. From the 1979 report in the case file: Decedent had full upper and lower dentures. Mandibular denture was not recovered. The maxillary denture was of an open face design with no flange over the 4 anterior teeth. The maxillary arch was small with the denture measuring 6.2 cm wide at the tuberosity and 5 cm long from incisor to post dam - the central incisor is 13 mm long - processed in pink plastic. The anterior teeth are New Hue Biotone Plastic, mold IN and shade 61 or 62. The posterior teeth are 32 L a 33 degree tooth.
Fingerprints
: Available. Prints checked through local PD and FBI no matches in file.
DNA
: mtDNA and nucDNA available. Complete mitochondrial DNA profile and full STR profile uploaded to NDIS.
Clothing:
Blue
Levi's
hip hugger jeans, a distinctive light blue-green button-up linen shirt with red floral embroidery and sequins and a tie up bottom. No shoes.
Jewelry:
A plain white gold ring on her right index finger and two white gold necklaces, one having a small silver cut-out leaf pendant with a small turquoise stone and the other with a white gold chain and clear plastic heart pendant.
Additional Personal Items:
Unknown
The victim's was found partially disrobed and lying face down in the vacant parking lot on the old El Rancho Casino property (now a vacant lot) at Las Vegas Boulevard South and Sahara Avenue. She had what appeared to be multiple wounds to the abdomen.
She was last seen with a white male at a liquor store shortly before she was found.
In 2016, it was announced that the female may have used the name "Shauna" or "Shawna" and could have worked at a Holiday Inn or a motel on Las Vegas Boulevard. She may have also lived in a trailer park.
Forensic pollen testing indicated she had spent some time Napa Valley or Central Valley, California before her death.
The victim is known by the nickname "Sahara Sue."
Agency Name:
Las Vegas Metro Police Department
Agency Contact Person:
Detective D. Culver
Agency Phone Number:
702-828-8973
Agency E-Mail:
ColdCaseHomicide@lvmpd.com
Agency Case Number:
79-53885
Agency Name:
Clark County Coroner's Office
Agency Contact Person:
Ashley Grygor
Agency Phone Number:
702-455-6649
Agency E-Mail:
CoronerUnidentified@co.clark.nv.us
Agency Case Number:
79-0968
NCIC Case Number:
U140022671
NamUs Case Number:
159
NCMEC Case Number:
1104104
NamUs
NCMEC
Wikipedia
Clark County Coroner
(archived)
FDLE
News 3 Archive
Added: 1/1/2001; Last Updated: 7/11/2021
Questions or comments? Please contact appropriate member of the Area Team
** Listed information may be estimated.
Return Home