Human remains found in a Florida canal have been identified as a woman who disappeared in 1985. Kayakers discovered the remains in May 2024 in a canal located in northeastern Cape Coral. The Cape Coral Police Department stated that the remains were confirmed to be those of Rose Marie Gayhart in May of this year.
Rose Marie Gayhart vanished at the age of 23. The violent crimes unit collaborated with a local medical examiner’s office and a sheriff’s office in New York, where Gayhart originally hailed from. They established her identity using DNA samples supplied by her family members. Police have now classified Gayhart’s death as a homicide.
Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore highlighted the significance of the identification. He affirmed that investigations persist regardless of time passed. “Even after four decades, our investigations do not stop, and our pursuit of justice does not end,” Sizemore stated. He urged anyone with knowledge of the case to contact the department.
Gayhart’s disappearance dates back to 1985. Her parents, living in Danville, New York, reported her missing. At the time, she lived and worked in the Cape Coral and North Fort Myers area. According to reports, Gayhart was last seen at the Cape Coral restaurant where she worked, known then as Big Howie’s Hot Dogs. She resided in a trailer park in North Fort Myers with her boyfriend and his mother.
Her sister, Laurie Travis, spent years seeking information about Gayhart’s fate. She shared details in a 2017 interview, expressing suspicion of foul play. “I think she was murdered. The neighbors were all saying so during the investigation,” she said. She also mentioned disturbances frequently occurring at the trailer park.