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Dawn Viens Missing Person Case

Last seen in Lomita, California on Oct 19, 2009

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Victim Details

Mar 19, 2012

Apr 21, 2015

Dawn

Viens

56

39

67 inches

110 lbs

White / Caucasian

Female

Oct 19, 2009

Lomita

California

Los Angeles County

90717

11522

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

Monterey Park

California

,

009-04249-1711-400

Nov 8, 2009

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

Red/Auburn

Brown

Brown

Oct 12, 2026


Area Last Seen:

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Remembering Dawn Viens

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP14229) and 9 other sources
Dawn Marie Viens, 39 years old, was last seen on October 18, 2009, leaving her and her husband's restaurant, Thyme Contemporary Cafe, in Lomita, California. Her husband, David Viens, initially claimed that she had left him after an argument and had gone missing before. However, as the investigation unfolded, David became the prime suspect in her disappearance.

In 2011, David confessed to accidentally causing Dawn's death by duct-taping her after an argument. He claimed that she choked on her vomit while restrained. Fearing that no one would believe it was an accident, he decided to dispose of her body. David later admitted to cooking Dawn's remains over four days in a 55-gallon drum and disposing of her body in the restaurant's grease pit and trash bin. Despite extensive searches, Dawn’s remains were never found.

David Viens was convicted of second-degree murder in 2012 and sentenced to 15 years to life in prison. The case remains notorious for its gruesome details, and Dawn's body has never been recovered.
Last Seen: Oct 19, 2009

Links to Additional Sources (9)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • David Viens Killed Wife Dawn, Confessed He Cooked Her Body
  • Lomita restaurateur who killed wife, allegedly cooked her body ...
  • 48 Hours: Bizarre case of David Viens, chef accused of killing ...
  • Missing Person / NamUs #MP14229
  • Lomita chef David Viens convicted of second-degree murder for ...
  • Husband of missing Lomita woman jumps off RPV cliff - Daily Breeze
  • Chef says he cooked wife's body for four days - Los Angeles Times
  • Lomita woman missing since October - Whittier Daily News
  • Dawn Viens, Calif. Woman Missing Nearly a Year; Case Given to ...

    • Possible Unidentified Matches (10)

    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.

    81%Moderate
    Jane Doe — Compton, California - unidentified case UP131023
    Jane Doe — Compton, California
    UP131023 • Found Sep 9, 2024
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 50–65 vs 39 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 100%9 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 15 years after last seen
    Height 84%5'9" vs 5'7"
    Weight 84%130 lb vs 110 lb
    Hair 70%Gray vs Red
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    80%Moderate
    Jane Doe — Arleta, California - unidentified case UP104482
    Jane Doe — Arleta, California
    UP104482 • Found Apr 11, 2023
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 35–50 vs 39 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 94%32 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 13 years after last seen
    Height 84%5'2"–5'5" vs 5'7"
    Weight 93%125–145 lb vs 110 lb
    Hair 50%Brown vs Red
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    80%Moderate
    Jane Doe — Los Angeles, California - unidentified case UP89347
    Jane Doe — Los Angeles, California
    UP89347 • Found Jan 16, 2022
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 40–55 vs 39 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 100%1 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 12 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'7"–5'9" vs 5'7"
    Weight 100%110–120 lb vs 110 lb
    Hair 50%Brown vs Red
    Eyes 0%Green vs Brown
    79%Possible
    Jane Doe — Los Angeles, California - unidentified case UP81695
    Jane Doe — Los Angeles, California
    UP81695 • Found Jun 26, 2021
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 85%Est. 20–40 vs 39 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 97%22 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 12 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'0"–5'6" vs 5'7"
    Weight 73%136 lb vs 110 lb
    Hair 50%Brown vs Red
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    79%Possible
    Jane Doe — Los Angeles, California - unidentified case UP80466
    Jane Doe — Los Angeles, California
    UP80466 • Found Apr 26, 2021
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 50–60 vs 39 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 98%18 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 12 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'3"–5'6" vs 5'7"
    Weight 100%115–130 lb vs 110 lb
    Hair 50%Brown vs Red
    Eyes 0%Blue vs Brown
    79%Possible
    Jane Doe — Los Angeles, California - unidentified case UP59708
    Jane Doe — Los Angeles, California
    UP59708 • Found Aug 24, 2019
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 85%Est. 40–65 vs 39 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 98%19 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 10 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'0"–5'6" vs 5'7"
    Weight 100%110–130 lb vs 110 lb
    Hair 50%Brown vs Red
    78%Possible
    Jane Doe — Los Angeles, California - unidentified case UP94448
    Jane Doe — Los Angeles, California
    UP94448 • Found Jun 18, 2022
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 50–60 vs 39 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 99%16 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 13 years after last seen
    Height 68%5'2"–5'4" vs 5'7"
    Weight 64%140–150 lb vs 110 lb
    Hair 50%Brown vs Red
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    78%Possible
    Jane Doe — Long Beach, California - unidentified case UP156951
    Jane Doe — Long Beach, California
    UP156951 • Found Feb 24, 2026
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 75%Est. 60–70 vs 39 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 100%7 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 16 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'7" vs 5'7"
    Weight 76%134 lb vs 110 lb
    Hair 70%Gray vs Red
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    77%Possible
    Jane Doe — Van Nuys, California - unidentified case UP11899
    Jane Doe — Van Nuys, California
    UP11899 • Found Nov 19, 2013
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 85%Est. 40–65 vs 39 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 95%28 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 4 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'8"–6'0" vs 5'7"
    Weight 31%153 lb vs 110 lb
    Hair 50%Brown vs Red
    Eyes 60%Hazel vs Brown
    77%Possible
    Jane Doe — Corona, California - unidentified case UP6964
    Jane Doe — Corona, California
    UP6964 • Found Sep 20, 2009
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 35–50 vs 39
    Race 100%White
    Location 91%45 mi away, same state
    TimingFound same day as last seen
    Height 20%5'1" vs 5'7"
    Weight 100%117 lb vs 110 lb
    Hair 50%Brown vs Red
    Eyes 100%Brown 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.

    Unidentified photos are blurred because many are post-mortem. Tap a photo to reveal it.

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    Forum Posts (1)

    Dawn Marie Viens, 39, was last seen on October 18, 2009, leaving the restaurant she ran with her... ...Read More
    10/14/2024

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