In the autumn of 2017, the family of David Rathbun, a 61-year-old Caucasian male, grew increasingly concerned. Rathbun, a retired CPA who had moved to Las Vegas from upstate New York in 2015 to enjoy the warmer climate and his passions for hiking and motorcycling, had uncharacteristically fallen out of touch. Communication became limited to strange and brief text messages that did not sound like him.
His family's worst fears began to materialize when they discovered that his Las Vegas home had been hastily sold for significantly less than its market value, something the meticulous former accountant would never have done. His belongings were also gone, and someone was attempting to drain his bank accounts.
The family reported him missing on October 16, 2017, prompting a police investigation. As detectives delved into his disappearance, a sinister plot began to unravel. They learned that Rathbun had met a woman named Jolene Hibbs and her boyfriend, Charles Ausiello. Believing Hibbs was down on her luck, Rathbun had allowed the couple to live with him. However, it is believed he eventually asked them to leave. Investigators found Rathbun's blood in the trunk of his car, which had been sold, and also discovered that the carpeting in a closet of his former home had been replaced and his blood was found there as well, indicating a violent struggle.
The search for David Rathbun came to a grim conclusion in 2018 when a tip led authorities to a remote mine shaft in the Arizona desert near Dolan Springs. Inside, they discovered his decomposed remains, which were identified through dental records. While the exact cause of death could not be determined due to the condition of the remains, the case was ruled a homicide.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department issued murder warrants for Jolene Hibbs and Charles Ausiello in connection with Rathbun's death. Investigators believe the couple scammed Rathbun, taking his house, his belongings, and ultimately his life for financial gain. Hibbs and Ausiello, who have a history of fraud-related arrests, have not been apprehended and remain at large. Law enforcement has sought the public's help in locating them, and their case has been featured on true crime television shows in an effort to bring them to justice. As of late 2025, there have been no arrests in the murder of David Rathbun.
