Frances Hatadis, 68, was last seen in South Lake Tahoe, California, on or around July 23 or 24, 1997. Her disappearance is considered a homicide, and foul play is suspected. At the time of her disappearance, Hatadis was a guest at the Shamrock Inn, located near Stateline.
Concerns for her welfare arose when her son was unable to contact her. Upon visiting her motel room, he discovered it in a state of disarray, with a computer and other items missing.
Although her blue 1988 Dodge Dynasty was gone, there was no indication that she had packed any of her personal belongings. Her son officially filed a missing person report on August 4, 1997. Approximately six days later, during a more thorough inspection of the room, her son found a significant bloodstain on the underside of the mattress.
Later that month, a man named Edward T. Hawkins was stopped in Morgan County, Colorado, while driving Hatadis's vehicle. Her belongings were found in the trunk of the car, and Hawkins was also in possession of several stolen credit cards. A convicted bank robber, Hawkins had been released from prison just a month prior to Hatadis's disappearance and was wanted for armed robbery in Las Vegas at the time of his arrest in Colorado. He was taken into custody for a parole violation.
During questioning regarding Frances Hatadis, Hawkins denied ever meeting her and claimed to have purchased her car from an unidentified person. While he remains the only suspect in her disappearance, her husband has been cleared of any involvement. Those who knew Hatadis described her as a private individual who enjoyed visiting casinos. The investigation into her case is ongoing.Last Seen: Jul 23, 1997
