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

Case Description

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Summary based on 5 sources
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

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.

75%Possible
Jane Doe — Los Angeles, California - unidentified case UP3425
Jane Doe — Los Angeles, California
UP3425 • Found Nov 14, 1997
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 65–75 vs 68
Race 100%White
Location 75%Same state
TimingFound 4 months after last seen
Weight 100%100–120 lb vs 105 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.