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Joyce Yost Missing Person Case

Last seen in South Ogden, Utah on Aug 11, 1985

Victim Details

Created

Jan 21, 2009

Case Added

Mar 19, 2021

First Name

Joyce

Last Name

Yost

Current Age

Age At Disappearance

Height

65 inches

Height To

67 inches

Weight

120 lbs

Weight To

130 lbs

Ethnicity

White / Caucasian

Gender

Female

Last Seen

Aug 11, 1985

City

South Ogden

State

Utah

County

Weber County

Agency ID

7142

Agency Name

South Ogden Police Department

Agency City

South Ogden

Agency State

Utah

Agency County

Weber County

Agency Zip Code

84403

Agency Address

3950 South Adams Avenue, Utah

Agency Phone

8016222800

Agency Jurisdiction

Local

Agency Type

Law Enforcement

Agency Website

http://www.southogdencity.com/departments/police_department/index.php

Agency Case #

853955

Primary Agency

South Ogden Police Department

Case Contributors

7480

Hair Color

Blond/Strawberry

Left Eye Color

Hazel

Right Eye Color

Hazel

Last Updated

Oct 9, 2026

Area Last Seen:

View Videos (1)

COLD 04: Joyce Yost\'s Rape Case First Prosecuted Without ...

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!

Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP1383) and 17 other sources

Joyce Yost, a 39-year-old woman from South Ogden, Utah, was last seen on August 10, 1985. Her disappearance is connected to a harrowing series of events. Just months before her vanishing, Yost had testified against Douglas Lovell, who had kidnapped and sexually assaulted her in April 1985. She was preparing to testify in his upcoming trial, which is believed to be the reason for her abduction and murder. On the night of her disappearance, Lovell broke into Yost's apartment, abducted her, and later admitted to strangling her and burying her body in a remote canyon area.

Yost’s car was found abandoned in the foothills east of Ogden shortly after she went missing. Although her body has never been recovered, Lovell eventually confessed to her murder in 1993, leading to his conviction. He provided details about the crime, including drugging Yost and staging her apartment to make it look like she left voluntarily. Despite a search effort that lasted weeks, Lovell was unable to locate her remains. He was initially sentenced to death in 1993 and remains on death row after a retrial in 2015.

Yost's disappearance and murder have left a lasting impact, with her family still seeking closure as her body has never been found. Her case is considered one of the most tragic in Utah's history due to the circumstances surrounding her death.
Last Seen: Aug 11, 1985

Links to Additional Sources (17)

See any mistakes? Let us know!

Joyce Lynn YOST | DPS - Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification

Investigators: Other Victims May Be Found Near Joyce Yost's Body

Anonymous Call May Have Led To Joyce Yost's Body Near Causey

Bonus 2: Location

New details in search for Joyce Yost prompted by podcast

COLD podcast: Cadaver dogs search property in Joyce Yost ...

'Cold': Was man convicted of killing Joyce Yost connected to ...

'Cold': Joyce Yost's body 'not within an acre' of where Douglas Lovell ...

2964DFUT - Joyce Lynn Yost - Doe Network

'Cold': New season to focus on Utah woman Joyce Lynn Yost's death

Secret Recording Broke Open Joyce Yost Murder Case - KSL TV

Efforts continue to press Lovell to reveal Yost's remains

Ep 4: She's Gone, Buddy - Cold Podcast

Justice for Joyce Yost | Here We Are | 6 - Apple Podcasts

Missing Person / NamUs #MP1383

Weber County prosecutors hope AI can replicate Joyce Yost's voice ...

UT - Joyce Yost, 39, South Ogden, 10 Aug 1985 | Websleuths

Possible Unidentified Matches (1)

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 — Salt Lake City, Utah

UP6947 • Found Sep 3, 1986

View case

Sex ✓Female

Age 85%Est. 20–40 vs 39 when missing

Race 100%White

Location 95%27 mi away, same state

TimingFound 13 months after last seen

Height 100%5'6" vs 5'5"–5'7"

Weight 100%115 lb vs 120–130 lb

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.

Joyce Yost Missing Person Case

Last seen in South Ogden, Utah on Aug 11, 1985

Victim Details

View Videos (1)

Case Description

Links to Additional Sources (17)

Possible Unidentified Matches (1)

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