40 years later, Cape Coral police identify woman whose remains were found in canal

CAPE CORAL, Fla. (WINK)— Cape Coral police have identified human remains discovered in 2024 as those of a woman who disappeared more than 40 years ago.

The remains belong to Rose Marie Gayhart, 23, who was reported missing in 1985 by her parents in Dansville, New York, according to a press release from the Cape Coral Police Department.

Gayhart was last known to be living and working in the Cape Coral and North Fort Myers area at the time of her disappearance.

According to previous WINK News reporting, Gayhart was last seen in March 1985 at a restaurant where she worked, formerly known as Big Howie’s Hot Dogs on Southeast 47th Terrace in Cape Coral. Her sister, Laurie Travis, spent decades searching for answers about what happened to Gayhart.

Kayakers discovered human remains in a canal in northeast Cape Coral in May 2024. The Cape Coral Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit received confirmation in May 2026 that the remains belonged to Gayhart.

The District 21 Medical Examiner’s Office assisted with the identification. The Livingston County Sheriff’s Office in New York secured the familial DNA used to confirm the identity of the remains.

The area where the remains were located was excavated with assistance from the Cape Coral Department of Public Works, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the Broward County Sheriff’s Office and the District 21 Medical Examiner’s Office.

Rose Marie Gayhart

"For more than forty years, Rose Marie Gayhart's family has carried the weight of not knowing what happened to her," Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore said.

"While this identification brings long-awaited answers, it also strengthens our resolve," Sizemore said. "No matter how much time passes, even after four decades, our investigations do not stop, and our pursuit of justice does not end."

The case is now considered an active homicide investigation. Police are asking anyone with information to come forward.