I am sure Donna Lass (25) was as fashion conscious as any other young women in 1970, so it isn't that surprising that she was described as wearing a blue slack/pant suit, blue shoes and carrying a blue purse (handbag) on September 5th 1970 by somebody at the Sahara Tahoe Hotel & Casino. A color coordinated selection of fashion accessories worn by Donna Lass before her shift began at 6:00 pm. This civilian outfit was missing from her apartment when belatedly searched by investigators when concerns grew about her absence from work, but her purse was found at her home containing her check book, car keys, personal cosmetics and a wallet containing less than $25. This strongly suggests that she arrived back to her apartment in the early morning hours of September 6th 1970, had removed her purse/handbag from her shoulder, but had failed to remove her clothing to go to bed.
It is highly unlikely somebody entered her apartment in the middle of the night and forced her to get dressed into the same clothing she had worn just a few hours earlier, before abducting and/or murdering her. It is also noteworthy that her purse was seemingly untouched, still containing a wallet with some money (less than $25), a check book and the keys to her 1968 Chevrolet Camaro. These items were seemingly not of interest to the perpetrator.
It is highly unlikely somebody entered her apartment in the middle of the night and forced her to get dressed into the same clothing she had worn just a few hours earlier, before abducting and/or murdering her. It is also noteworthy that her purse was seemingly untouched, still containing a wallet with some money (less than $25), a check book and the keys to her 1968 Chevrolet Camaro. These items were seemingly not of interest to the perpetrator.
3893 Pioneer Trail Road The FBI files stated that Donna Lass wore contact lenses, that one would presume she wore to perform her duties as a nurse at the Sahara Tahoe Hotel & Casino. If these were missing from the apartment when searched by investigators, it should have become obvious that she had worn them during her shift, and had failed to remove them before going to sleep that morning (which most people do). This would mean that she arrived back at her apartment, separated herself from her purse/handbag, but had not yet removed her blue suit and contact lenses in preparation for bed (which obviously would both be missing).
This may give us a narrow corridor of time for her murder and/or abduction, by a perpetrator who arrived home with her from the casino with malintent, or somebody in the vicinity of the Pioneer Trail residence who saw her arriving back on the morning of September 6th 1970, and seized the opportunity as she unlocked the front door of her apartment (or shortly afterwards). These two scenarios would explain why both her blue suit and contact lenses were missing from her 3893 Pioneer Trail Road home, but her purse/handbag and personal items were not. This would indicate that Donna Lass met her demise, whether by murder or abduction, shortly after arriving home.
It was noted by investigators that Donna Lass had changed into civilian clothes just before the end of her shift, which she occasionally did when she went to one of the bars for a drink (see below). Why would she change into a fashionable, color coordinated set of clothing at around 1:50 am, if her only intention was to travel home and go to bed? This may have been one of those occasions when she met up with somebody for a drink, who either drove her home afterwards, or she invited them to her new apartment (in her vehicle). Somebody who knew her work schedule, knew she wasn't working the evening of September 6th 1970 and could phone the casino explaining her absence the following day, knew that Mr. Davis was the name of her new landlord when pretending to be him during the malicious phone call on September 7th 1970, and knew they had to confuse the exact time of Donna's murder by claiming she had been called out of town for a family illness. A family that the killer knew lived out of town (in Sioux Falls, South Dakota). A location he hoped would buy him time and delay any investigation, which it ultimately did. If the killer of Donna Lass thought there was any chance of him being recognised as being with Donna Lass on the morning of September 6th 1970 (possibly having a drink), then it would be greatly beneficial to him that she wasn't found murdered the same or following day. By delaying any investigation into her absence through a phone call and body disposal, it blurs the timeline and memories of any potential eyewitnesses, and the exact day and time of her murder (if she had been found a week or so later). It would have created reasonable doubt in the mind of investigators during any forthcoming interrogations and the ultimate pursuit of justice. If I had to roll the dice, I would expect the casino to hold the answer in the murder of Donna Lass.
FURTHER READING: A KILLER FROM THE CASINO? [PART TWO]
This may give us a narrow corridor of time for her murder and/or abduction, by a perpetrator who arrived home with her from the casino with malintent, or somebody in the vicinity of the Pioneer Trail residence who saw her arriving back on the morning of September 6th 1970, and seized the opportunity as she unlocked the front door of her apartment (or shortly afterwards). These two scenarios would explain why both her blue suit and contact lenses were missing from her 3893 Pioneer Trail Road home, but her purse/handbag and personal items were not. This would indicate that Donna Lass met her demise, whether by murder or abduction, shortly after arriving home.
It was noted by investigators that Donna Lass had changed into civilian clothes just before the end of her shift, which she occasionally did when she went to one of the bars for a drink (see below). Why would she change into a fashionable, color coordinated set of clothing at around 1:50 am, if her only intention was to travel home and go to bed? This may have been one of those occasions when she met up with somebody for a drink, who either drove her home afterwards, or she invited them to her new apartment (in her vehicle). Somebody who knew her work schedule, knew she wasn't working the evening of September 6th 1970 and could phone the casino explaining her absence the following day, knew that Mr. Davis was the name of her new landlord when pretending to be him during the malicious phone call on September 7th 1970, and knew they had to confuse the exact time of Donna's murder by claiming she had been called out of town for a family illness. A family that the killer knew lived out of town (in Sioux Falls, South Dakota). A location he hoped would buy him time and delay any investigation, which it ultimately did. If the killer of Donna Lass thought there was any chance of him being recognised as being with Donna Lass on the morning of September 6th 1970 (possibly having a drink), then it would be greatly beneficial to him that she wasn't found murdered the same or following day. By delaying any investigation into her absence through a phone call and body disposal, it blurs the timeline and memories of any potential eyewitnesses, and the exact day and time of her murder (if she had been found a week or so later). It would have created reasonable doubt in the mind of investigators during any forthcoming interrogations and the ultimate pursuit of justice. If I had to roll the dice, I would expect the casino to hold the answer in the murder of Donna Lass.
FURTHER READING: A KILLER FROM THE CASINO? [PART TWO]
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