After more than half a century, investigators have finally identified the remains of a Calgary woman found murdered in Nevada in 1970. The victim has been confirmed as Anna Sylvia Just, who was 29 years old at the time of her death.

According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Just’s remains were discovered on June 7, 1970, by children playing in the desert. Her body had been buried in a shallow grave. A medical examination determined her cause of death was a homicide caused by a skull fracture.

A Cross-Border Mystery

Just was first reported missing from her Calgary home on August 17, 1966. Two years later, she was also listed as missing from Nevada after personal belongings believed to be hers were discovered in the desert near Henderson. Investigators located her suitcase, purse, passport, a plane ticket, and strands of human hair inside the purse. Clothing and a blood-stained sheet were found nearby, but no trace of Anna herself was discovered at the time.

Reports from the late 1960s linked Just to Thomas Hanley, a well-known union figure in Las Vegas. Some accounts alleged she went to him seeking money and that associates of Hanley may have taken her into the desert, where she was killed. However, no evidence was ever found to confirm his involvement, and Hanley was never charged before his death in 1979 while in federal custody.

DNA and Genealogy Breakthrough

The Clark County Coroner’s Office worked with the Las Vegas police cold case unit and Calgary Police Service to pursue new leads. In October 2024, Calgary investigators were contacted by their Nevada counterparts to locate surviving family members. A DNA sample was collected from Just’s biological sister in Alberta, leading to a match through genetic genealogy.

“Through genetic genealogy, it was confirmed that the remains located in 1970 were those of Anna Sylvia Just,” Las Vegas police said in a public statement. The confirmation officially closes a case that spanned 55 years across two countries.

What You Can Do

Cold cases like this show the importance of DNA technology and cooperation between international agencies. Share this story to help raise awareness about long-term missing persons cases that still await answers.