Story perspectives

Carpet Salesman Convicted for 1981 Murder Over $20M Estate

7/17/2026

Summary

Story summary

New Missing and Unidentified Human Remains grant funding let investigators identify the remains near Sugarloaf Mountain as Thelma Gaston, who vanished on June 28 1981.
Lawrence Remsen, a carpet salesman, was convicted of second-degree murder and twelve counts for killing Gaston to claim her $20 million estate.
A firewood collector found the shallow grave on Nov 28 1981 in the Santa Rosa Mountains near Palm Springs, which remained unidentified until 2026.

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Story summary

New Missing and Unidentified Human Remains grant funding let investigators identify the remains near Sugarloaf Mountain as Thelma Gaston, who vanished on June 28 1981.
Lawrence Remsen, a carpet salesman, was convicted of second-degree murder and twelve counts for killing Gaston to claim her $20 million estate.
A firewood collector found the shallow grave on Nov 28 1981 in the Santa Rosa Mountains near Palm Springs, which remained unidentified until 2026.