21 Solved in '21 : Day 20 : Sandra Matott
21 Solved In ‘21 : Day 20 : Sandra Haymes Matott
On July 18, 1979, Sandra Haymes Matott was reported missing in Salt Lake City, Utah by her husband. He’d told authorities that he last saw her 8 days earlier at a Salt Lake City bar.
Several attempts to follow-up with her husband were made, but authorities were unable to reach him.
On August 19, 1979, hunters in Millard County, an area 175 miles outside of Salt Lake City, discovered skeletal remains. At the scene of the remains, authorities discovered a ring and watch. Despite no signs of homicidal violence being present, a homicide investigation was opened.
It took until 2019 for the remains to be connected to Sandra through DNA donated by her daughters. Sandra’s family has long believed that her husband was responsible for her demise. Her son, who was 19 at the time of her disappearance said she was the victim of domestic violence. She’d shot her husband in the stomach in self-defense just one year prior to her death.
At one point in 1984, confession killer Henry Lee Lucas confessed to killing Sandra, though no evidence was given to support this, and false confessions were his specialty.
This case is solved only in that Sandra got her name back. It is still unknown who, if anyone, had involvement in her death. Detectives from both Millard County and Salt Lake City hold firm in their belief that Sandra’s husband knew far more than he let on about Sandra Matott’s disappearance. “However, there was never any probable cause to charge Warren Mattot in connection to this case.” Sandra’s husband died of Parkinson’s Disease in 1999. Sandra’s son attributes his death to karma.
Authorities have concluded their investigation, as no further evidence is likely to be found. Sandra’s family remains certain that they knew the answers all along.
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https://www.oxygen.com/crime-news/sandra-matotts-remains-identified-40-years-after-her-disappearance
https://www.deseret.com/utah/2021/8/20/22634542/police-solve-utah-cold-case-from-1979-sandra-matott
https://www.abc4.com/news/top-stories/missing-in-utah-sandra-matotts-case-is-officially-closed-pt-4/