Cape Coral, FL – Human remains discovered in Cape Coral have been identified as a woman who disappeared from Southwest Florida more than four decades ago, prompting authorities to continue investigating the case as a homicide.
The Cape Coral Police Department announced that DNA testing confirmed the remains belong to Rose Marie Gayhart, who was 23-years-old when she was reported missing in March 1985.
Gayhart had relocated from New York to the Cape Coral and North Fort Myers area, where she was living and working before she disappeared.
According to investigators, kayakers found the remains in a canal in northeast Cape Coral in May 2024.
The victim’s identity remained unknown until investigators received DNA results in May 2026.
The identification was made possible through forensic testing conducted by the District 21 Medical Examiner’s Office, along with assistance from the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office in New York, which helped obtain familial DNA for comparison.
Police said Gayhart was living in a North Fort Myers trailer park with her boyfriend and his mother at the time of her disappearance.
She was also employed at a local restaurant in Cape Coral. Authorities have not released additional details about the circumstances surrounding her disappearance or death.
With the victim now identified, the Cape Coral Police Department has officially classified the case as a homicide investigation.
Detectives are continuing to examine evidence and follow up on leads in an effort to determine what happened to Gayhart more than 40 years ago.
Investigators are asking anyone with information about Gayhart’s disappearance or death to contact the Cape Coral Police Department as the investigation remains active.