Human remains discovered by a kayaker in Cape Coral, Florida, have been identified as those of Rose Marie Gayhart, who disappeared in 1985 at age 23. Gayhart had been living and working in the Cape Coral and North Fort Myers area after moving there from New York. DNA testing connected her family to a skull found in a canal in May 2024. Her disappearance is now being treated as an active homicide investigation, and police are seeking information about the people who last saw her.
Investigators believe Gayhart’s final days involved a troubled relationship, a pregnancy and a reported encounter with a man in a red pickup truck. Authorities have not announced an arrest or identified a suspect in the homicide case.
| 1) | Gayhart’s disappearance in southwest Florida |
| 2) | The last known events before she vanished |
| 3) | Human remains found by a kayaker |
| 4) | Why the case is now a homicide investigation |
| 5) | Police appeal for information |
Gayhart’s disappearance in southwest Florida
Rose Marie Gayhart was 23 when she disappeared from southwest Florida in 1985. Her parents, who lived in Dansville, New York, reported her missing in March of that year. She had moved to the Cape Coral area approximately three months earlier and was known to have lived and worked in Cape Coral and nearby North Fort Myers.
Gayhart was living with her boyfriend, Robert Paddock, and Paddock’s mother in a trailer. Her family remained in regular contact with her through letters and phone calls, but those communications stopped suddenly. Relatives became concerned because the change was unexpected and because they understood that Gayhart and her boyfriend did not have an ideal relationship.
The last known events before she vanished
Investigators interviewed witnesses who described Gayhart’s final known movements. Detectives were told she had been forced to leave the trailer and was last seen walking down the street with a suitcase. A neighbor reportedly allowed her to use a telephone to call her family.
During that conversation, Gayhart reportedly said she was pregnant and wanted to keep the baby, while her boyfriend did not want her to do so. Another trailer-park resident reported hearing extensive arguing and crashing, including sounds suggesting property was being destroyed, on one night before Gayhart disappeared.
Gayhart had recently begun working at Howie’s Hot Dogs in Cape Coral. When her boyfriend went to pick her up, she was not at work. Restaurant employees told authorities that she had left with a man in a red pickup truck. Two independent witnesses also reported seeing her with a white man in such a vehicle.
Human remains found by a kayaker
The case remained unresolved for decades. In May 2024, a kayaker traveling through a canal in northeast Cape Coral found a human skull and contacted police. The discovery gave investigators physical evidence that could be tested, although the identification process was not immediate.
Florida authorities worked with a New York law enforcement agency to obtain DNA from Gayhart’s family. Testing ultimately established that the skull belonged to Gayhart. The process took about two years, bringing confirmation more than four decades after her disappearance.
“For more than 40 years, Rose Marie Gayhart’s family has carried the weight of not knowing what happened to her. While this identification brings long-awaited answers, it also strengthens our resolve.”
Why the case is now a homicide investigation
Cape Coral police now classify Gayhart’s death as an active homicide case. The identification answers the question of who the remains belonged to, but investigators have not publicly explained how she died or announced who may be responsible.
Anthony Sizemore, chief of the Cape Coral Police Department, said the investigation will continue despite the passage of time. Earlier witness accounts about the conflict at the trailer, Gayhart’s pregnancy and the red pickup truck are among the known details that could help investigators reconstruct her final movements.
“No matter how much time passes, even after four decades, our investigations do not stop, and our pursuit of justice does not end.”
Police appeal for information
Police are asking anyone with information about Gayhart’s disappearance, her relationship with Paddock or the red pickup truck to contact authorities. Investigators consider identifying the man seen with Gayhart to be a potentially important step in the case.
The appeal extends to people who may have lived or worked near the trailer park, Howie’s Hot Dogs or the Cape Coral canals in 1985. Even information that seemed minor at the time could help establish a timeline, identify witnesses or clarify what happened after Gayhart left work.
| 1 | Rose Marie Gayhart disappeared from southwest Florida in 1985 at age 23. |
| 2 | A kayaker found a human skull in a northeast Cape Coral canal in May 2024. |
| 3 | DNA from Gayhart’s family helped confirm the identification about two years later. |
| 4 | Police are treating the death as an active homicide investigation. |
| 5 | Investigators want information about Gayhart’s final movements and a man in a red pickup truck. |
Summary
The identification of Rose Marie Gayhart provides long-awaited answers to her family but marks a new stage in the investigation. Police now have confirmed remains and a homicide classification, while key questions about her death and the identity of the man seen with her remain unresolved. Authorities are urging witnesses and anyone with relevant information to come forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Rose Marie Gayhart?
She was a 23-year-old woman from New York who was living and working in the Cape Coral and North Fort Myers area when she disappeared in 1985.
How was Gayhart identified?
A kayaker found a human skull in a Cape Coral canal in May 2024. Authorities used DNA obtained from Gayhart’s family to confirm the remains’ identity.
What are police investigating now?
The case is being investigated as an active homicide. Police are seeking information about Gayhart’s final movements, her relationships and a man reportedly seen with her in a red pickup truck.
