The remains of a woman, discovered in a shallow grave in Southern California 45 years ago, have been confirmed as those of Thelma Janet Gaston, an 80-year-old millionaire believed to have been murdered by her younger partner.
Gaston, a real estate investor from Los Angeles County with an estimated fortune of $20 million, vanished in June 1981. This disappearance coincided with attempts to falsify documents aimed at transferring her properties to 39-year-old Lawrence Remsen.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office announced on Wednesday that Gaston was the unnamed victim whose remains were found near Sugarloaf Mountain in November 1981.
“More than 40 years later, investigators from the Riverside Sheriff-Coroner’s Office and the Riverside Cold Case Homicide Team have positively identified the female murder victim as Thelma Gaston,” the sheriff’s office stated.
Advances in forensic science finally allowed authorities to identify the remains, which had been in a state of decomposition that made earlier identification impossible.
In May, investigators utilized dental records and genetic genealogy techniques to crack this cold case.
Gaston was last seen on June 28, 1981. Her final message was reportedly a note left at her Rancho Park home, claiming she was going out to look for her cat. A second note, allegedly penned by Gaston, hinted that she was giving in to Remsen due to concerns over her finances, asserting that “everyone is after my money” and expressing a desire to live freely.
However, those close to her, including her nephew John Mitrick, voiced skepticism about the letter’s authenticity, highlighting Gaston’s reputation as a savvy businesswoman who thrived on buying tax-foreclosed properties.
Investigations revealed that the signature on the letter was forged, using a stolen notary stamp.
Remsen, described as a former carpet salesman and security alarm employee, manipulated his way into Gaston’s life, claiming they were in love and even discussing marriage prior to her death.
Authorities later uncovered that Remsen had sold some of her properties and attempted to withdraw over $100,000 from her bank account. Following her disappearance, he evaded the police, yet they found stolen items linked to Gaston in his West Los Angeles apartment, along with her Mercedes parked in his garage.
While police didn’t take the car at first since it wasn’t reported stolen, when they returned the next day, it was gone.
In September 1981, Remsen was captured in Texas while trying to flee to Mexico. He later claimed that Gaston had passed away from natural causes and stated he had disposed of her body at sea.
A judge convicted Remsen of second-degree murder in 1983 for “intentionally and maliciously” killing Gaston, despite her body being unidentified at that time. The judge criticized Remsen as an “incompetent scoundrel,” sentencing him to life in prison.
Even now, at 83, Remsen has been denied parole multiple times, including a recent rejection on April 12, 2023, and his appeals for release have consistently failed.
