Joan Musalo, a 74-year-old White female, and her husband, Albert, were found murdered in their home on March 28, 2006, in the exclusive gated community of Montreux, located south of Reno, Nevada. The couple, who had been married for over 50 years, had moved to the quiet, secure neighborhood two years prior to be closer to their daughter and her family. Concerns arose when their daughter was unable to reach them by phone for a few days.
After a security guard's welfare check proved unsuccessful, she and her husband went to the home and made the grim discovery.
Upon entering the locked house, they found muddy tracks leading through the home to the master bedroom, where they discovered Joan and Albert, both in their 70s, dead from gunshot wounds in their bed. Investigators found no signs of forced entry, and nothing of value appeared to have been stolen from the residence. The phone lines to the house had been cut, suggesting a planned attack. Footprints were also found outside the rear of the house, near a fence that separated the property from a hiking trail.
Despite the seemingly targeted nature of the crime, a clear motive has never been established. The Musalos were described as friendly, frugal, and quiet people who enjoyed skiing and playing tennis. They had no known enemies and lived a low-risk lifestyle, making the brutal slayings all the more perplexing to investigators and their loved ones.
The case remains a cold case, and no arrests have ever been made in connection with the murders of Joan and Albert Musalo. DNA from an unknown male was recovered at the scene, but it has not led to the identification of a suspect. The family continues to seek answers and is offering a $35,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for their deaths.
