Crime Solvers Central
Crime Solvers Central
302 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.

Case Description

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Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP25818) and 8 other sources
Dawn Elaine Sanchez, aged 32, was last seen on August 30, 1991, in Los Altos, California. She lived at the Four Seasons Motor Lodge and was involved in prostitution at the time. Sanchez was last seen leaving the motel with her boyfriend, Bernardo Bass, in his 1979 Pontiac Grand Prix. Witnesses later claimed to have seen Bass and Sanchez arguing near a vacant lot in Sunnyvale, where a gunshot was heard before Bass sped away. Sanchez was never seen again, and her disappearance was not reported until October of that year.

Bass, described as a controlling and jealous boyfriend, was arrested and charged with Sanchez’s murder, but due to a lack of evidence and the refusal of a key witness to testify, the charges were initially dropped. In 2007, the case was reopened, and Bass was again arrested. He eventually pled no contest to involuntary manslaughter in 2009 and was sentenced to six years in prison. Sanchez’s body was never found, and foul play is strongly suspected due to the violent circumstances surrounding her disappearance. Her case remains unsolved.

Last Seen: Aug 30, 1991

Possible Unidentified Matches (3)

Unidentified remains cases whose details are consistent with this person, ranked by how closely they compare. Fields that are unknown in either case are left out of the score.

78%Possible
Jane Doe — Woodside, California
UP9681 • Found Mar 1, 1994
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 32 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%7 mi away, same state
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
75%Possible
Jane Doe — San Francisco, California
UP9160 • Found Apr 22, 2011
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 85%Est. 25–50 vs 32 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 95%30 mi away, same state
TimingFound 20 years after last seen
Height 68%5'2" vs 4'11"
Weight 91%125 lb vs 109 lb
Hair 60%Brown vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
75%Possible
Jane Doe — San Francisco, California
UP5958 • Found Jun 19, 2004
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 85%Est. 40–60 vs 32 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 93%35 mi away, same state
TimingFound 13 years after last seen
Height 84%5'1" vs 4'11"
Weight 100%109 lb vs 109 lb
Hair 70%Gray vs Black
Eyes 0%Blue vs Brown

These comparisons are generated automatically from public NamUs case data and are not confirmed identifications. Only DNA, dental or fingerprint comparison by investigators can confirm an identity. If you believe two cases are connected, contact the agency handling the unidentified case.