Julie Schossow and Marilyn Putt were
close friends and both worked as blackjack dealers at the Harrah’s
Casino in South Lake Tahoe and were closely associated with
Harrah's Casino employees. Both victims were together when they
disappeared from their home around midnight of January 12, or early hours of
January 13, 1982. Investigators now believe both victims were kidnapped that
evening and held captive for approximately (3) months at an unknown location
most likely somewhere between South Lake Tahoe and the Placerville areas.
On June 6, 1982, almost six months later, the body
of Marilyn Putt was discovered in the South Fork of the American
River, one mile west of an area known as Chili Bar (Highway 193). Her body had
been weighted down with chains and binding material and the cause of death
appears to be ligature strangulation, with the time of death being estimated at
6 - 8 weeks prior to her body being found.
One month later, on July 9, 1982, the body
of Julie Schossow was discovered also in the South Fork of the
American River, approximately 150 yards from where Marilyn Putt’s body had been
discovered. She had a cord tightly wrapped around her neck two times and
the coroner could not rule out the fact that she may have been bound together
with Marilyn Putt. The cause of death appears to be ligature strangulation,
with the time of death being estimated at 6 - 8 weeks prior to her body being
found.
Although not a member herself, Marilyn Putt was
closely associated with several leading members of the “Church of
Scientology”.
If you have any information regarding either of
these cases, please contact Chief Investigator Robert Cosley at (530) 903-8468
or by email at robert.cosley@edcgov.us.
Please
watch the updated video on the above cold case at http://tinyurl.com/hwo5l88 and visit our blog at vernpierson.us.