RELATED:\u00a0Woman still seeking answers in sister\u2019s 1985 Cape Coral disappearance<\/a><\/p>\n Gayhart was last known to be living and working in the Cape Coral and North Fort Myers area at the time of her disappearance.<\/p>\n According to previous WINK News reporting<\/a>, Gayhart was last seen in March 1985 at a restaurant where she worked, formerly known as Big Howie\u2019s Hot Dogs on Southeast 47th Terrace in Cape Coral. Her sister, Laurie Travis, spent decades searching for answers about what happened to Gayhart.<\/p>\n Kayakers discovered human remains in a canal in northeast Cape Coral in May 2024. The Cape Coral Police Department\u2019s Violent Crimes Unit received confirmation in May 2026 that the remains belonged to Gayhart.<\/p>\n The District 21 Medical Examiner\u2019s Office assisted with the identification. The Livingston County Sheriff\u2019s Office in New York secured the familial DNA used to confirm the identity of the remains.<\/p>\n The area where the remains were located was excavated with assistance from the Cape Coral Department of Public Works, the Lee County Sheriff\u2019s Office<\/a>, the Broward County Sheriff\u2019s Office and the District 21 Medical Examiner\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n