Jan Scharf, a 45-year-old emergency room nurse, was last seen in Cameron Park, California, in May 2002. While her friends and family last saw her on May 14, 2002, her estranged husband, Glyn Wolfgang Scharf, claimed to have last seen her at their home on the evening of May 16. The couple was legally separated and in the process of a divorce but continued to live in the same house to save money, sleeping in different rooms. Glyn Scharf told authorities that when he left for work on the morning of May 17, Jan's bedroom door was closed and her car was gone. May 16 had been her day off from her job at the University of California, Davis Medical Center, where she had been employed since 1985. She was reported missing on May 18 after she failed to show up for work.
Jan's tan Ford Explorer, which had been missing along with her, was discovered abandoned on May 19 in front of a 24-Hour Fitness in Folsom, California. There was no indication that she had visited the gym that day. The investigation into her disappearance revealed a troubled and deteriorating relationship with her estranged husband. In the same month she went missing, Jan had reported to the police that she believed Glyn was poisoning her. Tests revealed the presence of digoxin, a heart medication for which she had no prescription, in her system. Glyn, a paramedic, would have had access to the drug. Jan had also reported a gun missing from their home. No charges were filed in either of these incidents before her disappearance.
The investigation into Jan Scharf's disappearance led to the arrest of her estranged husband, Glyn Scharf. Despite his claims that Jan may have run away with another man, he was charged with her murder. The prosecution built a case on circumstantial evidence, portraying Glyn as a jealous and violent man. Neighbors reported hearing a scream from the Scharf residence around 8:00 p.m. on the night Jan was last allegedly seen by her husband. Additionally, some of Jan's jewelry was found buried in the yard of Glyn's girlfriend, a woman Jan had never met.
In October 2004, Glyn Scharf was convicted of the first-degree murder of his wife, Jan Scharf. Following his conviction and a sentence of 25 years to life in prison, he made two suicide attempts. A third attempt in May 2007 was successful, and he died in prison from an overdose of his antidepressant medication. To this day, Jan Scharf's remains have never been located. At the time of her disappearance, she had been making plans for the future, including applying for a promotion at work, going water-skiing with a friend, and a trip to Las Vegas, as well as preparing for her daughter's wedding.
Last Seen: May 16, 2002
