Kathy Graves, a 15-year-old girl of European descent, was murdered in South Lake Tahoe in 1989. Her remains were discovered near the Mt. Tallac trailhead at Camp Concord, where hikers first found a human skull. Additional bone fragments were later recovered in the area. Forensic analysis determined that the remains had been there between six months and two years before their discovery.
Kathy Graves had a troubled home life. Her father, Barry Graves, was described as neglectful and abusive, often locking her out of their trailer. Her aunt, Sherry Parsley, and her husband, Ivan, had offered to adopt Kathy, but Barry refused. Kathy frequently stayed with her aunt and uncle, calling them multiple times a day. In the summer of 1989, she disappeared, and after weeks of silence, her family forced Barry to report her missing.
The primary suspect in Kathy Graves' murder was Joseph Michael Nissensohn, a convicted murderer. His wife, Cheryl Rose, testified that while they were in South Lake Tahoe, they picked up Kathy, who was known to smoke marijuana and was flirtatious with Nissensohn. Rose recounted that Nissensohn took Kathy to a secluded wooded area, carrying a blanket. He returned alone minutes later, visibly upset. Later, he reportedly told Rose that 'what happened with Kathy was messy.'
Nissensohn had a history of violence, including the murder of Sally Jo Tsaggaris and an attempted murder of Rose. He was charged with Kathy Graves' murder in 2008, along with the 1981 killings of two other teenage girls, Tanya Jones and Tammy Jarschke. If convicted, he faced the death penalty.
Forensic anthropologist Alison Galloway confirmed that the remains belonged to a teenage girl of European descent, consistent with Kathy Graves' description. She noted that all damage to the bones occurred postmortem, likely due to scavengers. The accumulated temperature days method was used to estimate the time since death, though it did not account for animal activity.
Kathy Graves' case was part of a larger investigation into Nissensohn's crimes. His wife's testimony, along with forensic evidence, painted a grim picture of his actions. The trial proceedings included witness accounts from Kathy's family, law enforcement officers, and forensic experts, all contributing to the case against Nissensohn.
