Cape Coral identifies 1985 missing woman's remains

DNA confirmed remains found in a 2024 Cape Coral canal belong to Rose Marie Gayhart, who disappeared in 1985. The Cape Coral Police Department says the case is now an active homicide investigation and is asking the public for information. The identification was confirmed in May 2026 with help from the District 21 Medical Examiner’s Office and familial DNA secured by the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office in New York. Gayhart was 23 at the time of her disappearance and had been living and working in the Cape Coral/North Fort Myers area. Investigators conducted a multi-agency dig near Kismet Parkway in 2026, excavating the site with assistance from several agencies to pursue leads. CCPD Chief Anthony Sizemore stressed the long pursuit of justice and closure for Gayhart’s family, noting the case has spanned more than four decades.