Podcasts > The Deck > Rose Marie Gayhart (Queen of Diamonds, New York)

Rose Marie Gayhart (Queen of Diamonds, New York)

By audiochuck

Join hosts Ashley Flowers and Laurie Travis on "The Deck," as they delve into the mysterious disappearance of Rosemarie Gayheart, who sought a new beginning in the Sunshine State only to vanish under alarming circumstances. This gripping episode gathers the fragmented details surrounding her 1984 disappearance, the tumultuous events that preceded it, and the enduring quest for answers that has stretched across decades.

The narrative weaves through Rosemarie's struggles, from the heartbreaking and contentious death of her son Danny to the adversarial dynamics with her boyfriend Bobby's family. Witnesses last recall Rosemarie climbing into an enigmatic red pickup truck—an image that haunts the case. Meanwhile, the perseverance of Rose's family, especially her sister Laurie, sheds light on their harrowing journey through delayed police action and potential leads gone cold. As the story unfolds, it reveals a tapestry of unresolved leads and dedicated advocacy for the missing, setting a profound backdrop for a saga that continues to resonate.

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Rose Marie Gayhart (Queen of Diamonds, New York)

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Rose Marie Gayhart (Queen of Diamonds, New York)

1-Page Summary

The disappearance of Rosemarie Gayheart in 1984 shortly after moving to Florida

Rosemarie Gayheart's disappearance continues to be a subject of interest after she moved to Florida in 1984. She relocated for a fresh start with her boyfriend Bobby but vanished a few months after.

Allegations surrounding Rose's son Danny's suspicious death in 1983

The mysterious death of Rose's son, Danny, in 1983 involved allegations and legal challenges for Rose. She entered an Alfred plea to avoid conviction on charges related to his death. Prior to moving to Florida, she gave her second son up for adoption.

Rose looking for a fresh start in Florida

Rose sought a new life in Cape Coral, Florida, in December 1984. She maintained a close connection with her sister Laurie, sharing her happiness and plans through letters and calls, conveying a sense of optimism in her new life.

Rose's contentious relationship with Dorothy

The relationship between Rose and Dorothy, Bobby's mother, was fraught with conflict. After a serious fight in mid-March, for which Dorothy bought Rose a bus ticket back to New York, Dorothy detailed the issues in a letter to Rose's mother.

Multiple reports of Rose seen getting into a red pickup truck before vanishing

Witness reports, including those from Dorothy, a bar patron, and Rose's employer, suggest Rose was last seen getting into a red pickup truck on the day she disappeared. However, no substantial police investigation seemed to pursue the lead of the red truck.

Rose's family not reporting her missing until May 1985

Due to miscommunication and assumptions, Rose's family delayed reporting her missing. They assumed she was on her return to New York and were only prompted to act after a call from Dorothy's ex-husband raised alarms.

Police investigations focusing on Dorothy and Bobby

Dorothy and Bobby, both of whom had strained relationships with Rose, gave inconsistent stories and denied involvement, which caught the attention of law enforcement. Bobby took a polygraph exam with inconclusive results.

Rose's sister Laurie investigating the case and advocating for missing persons

Laurie confronted Bobby in 2016, and in 2021 she suspected Roland Davis might be involved in Rose's disappearance. She learned Davis frequented the same bar as Rose and had a history of criminal acts consistent with her sister's case.

Key suspect Roland Davis killed in 2022 before being questioned about Rose

Roland Davis, a potential suspect in Rose's case, matched previous descriptions and timelines. Despite his implication in other murders and a history of violence, he died in 2022 before he could be further questioned.

1-Page Summary

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • An Alford plea is a type of guilty plea where a defendant maintains their innocence but acknowledges that the prosecution has enough evidence to potentially convict them. This plea allows the defendant to accept a sentence without admitting guilt. It is named after a 1970 U.S. Supreme Court case involving a defendant named Henry Alford. Alford pleas are accepted in most U.S. federal and state courts, with a few exceptions.
  • Miscommunication and assumptions among Rose's family members led to a delay in reporting her disappearance. They mistakenly believed she was on her way back to New York, which caused a delay in realizing she was missing. It wasn't until a call from Dorothy's ex-husband raised concerns that they took action to report her missing in May 1985.
  • Polygraph exams, also known as lie detector tests, measure physiological responses like heart rate, blood pressure, and perspiration to determine if someone is being truthful. Inconclusive results mean that the test did not definitively indicate deception or truthfulness. Factors like stress, anxiety, or physical conditions can contribute to inconclusive outcomes, making it challenging to draw clear conclusions from the test results. Polygraph results are not admissible as evidence in court due to their lack of absolute reliability.

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Rose Marie Gayhart (Queen of Diamonds, New York)

The disappearance of Rosemarie Gayheart in 1984 shortly after moving to Florida

In a concerning case that still evokes questions, Rosemarie Gayheart’s disappearance shortly after her 1984 relocation to Florida remains a deeply troubling mystery.

Rose's relationship troubles with her boyfriend Bobby's mother Dorothy

Details surrounding Rose's relationship troubles prior to her disappearance are scant in the provided content but may be relevant to the investigation.

Last confirmed sightings of Rose in March 1985

Unfortunately, the information regarding the last confirmed sightings of Rose in March 1985 is not elaborate in the given details.

Police investigations in NY and FL into Rose's disappearance

Upon Rosemarie Gayheart’s suspected disappearance, William and Donna Johnson filed a police report with the Cape Coral Police Department on May 10th without delay, fearing foul play. Detective Sergeant Dave Stadleman received the initial report; however, progress was hindered by the common, yet dispassionate view of Rose as an adult who merely chose to vanish.

The mystery deepened, leading Rose's case to resurface with the Livingston County Sheriff's Department in New York, where Majo ...

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The disappearance of Rosemarie Gayheart in 1984 shortly after moving to Florida

Additional Materials

Clarifications

...

Counterarguments

  • The exact nature and relevance of Rose's relationship troubles with Dorothy to her disappearance are not clear without more information.
  • The last confirmed sightings of Rose in March 1985 might not be accurate if there were no reliable witnesses or evidence to corroborate the dates.
  • The effectiveness and thoroughness of the police investigations in both New York and Florida could be questioned, especially if there were initial delays or if Rose was prematurely categorized as an adult who chose to ...

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Rose Marie Gayhart (Queen of Diamonds, New York)

Allegations surrounding Rose's son Danny's suspicious death in 1983

In 1983, the mysterious death of Rose's son Danny raised numerous questions and allegations, casting a shadow over the events that transpired.

Rose entering an Alfred plea to avoid prison time

Rose found herself entangled in a legal battle after her son's untimely death. In an effort to avoid a potentially lengthy prison sentence, she opted for an Alfred plea, which allowed her to maintain her innocence while conceding that enough evidence existed to potentially convict her of charges related to Danny's death.

Rose giving up second son for adoption prior to moving

Before the controversy surroundi ...

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Allegations surrounding Rose's son Danny's suspicious death in 1983

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • An Alfred plea is a legal concept where a defendant maintains their innocence but acknowledges that the prosecution has enough evidence to potentially secure a conviction. It allows the defendant to accept a plea deal without admitting guilt. This plea is named after a 1970 U.S. Supreme Court case, North Carolina v. Alford. It's a strategic option for defendants facing serious charges who wish to avoid the risk of a harsher sentence at trial.
  • Rose became embroiled in a legal battle following her son Danny's death in 1983. To avoid a potential prison sentence, she ...

Counterarguments

...

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Rose Marie Gayhart (Queen of Diamonds, New York)

Rose looking for a fresh start in Florida

Rose’s journey for a new beginning leads her to sunny Cape Coral, Florida, in the hope of better prospects alongside her boyfriend Bobby. Her sister Laurie becomes a key confidante documenting this shift through their heartfelt correspondence.

Rose calling her sister Laurie on Christmas Eve 1984 about moving

In December 1984, Rose made the decision to leave Dansville, New York, and head to Florida. Laurie Travis received a phone call from Rose on Christmas Eve, announcing her plans to move the very next morning. Rose invited Laurie to a farewell, demonstrating an eagerness to maintain the familial bond, even with the distance.

Rose corresponding regularly with Laurie after the move

Despite the geographical distance, Rose and her sister Laurie maintained a close relationship. The sisters actively corresponded through letters and long-distance phone calls, ensuring they stayed a significant part of each other's lives even as Rose adapted to her new surroundings in Florida.

Rose seeming happy in letters to Laurie in e ...

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Rose looking for a fresh start in Florida

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • Dansville, New York, is Rose's original hometown where she lived before deciding to move to Florida. The mention of Dansville signifies Rose's departure from her familiar surroundings to embark on a new chapter in her life. It serves as the starting point of Rose's journey towards a fresh start in Cape Coral, Florida.
  • Rose's desire for Laurie to join her in Florida stemmed from their close bond as sisters. Despite the physical distance, Rose valued their relati ...

Counterarguments

...

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Rose Marie Gayhart (Queen of Diamonds, New York)

Rose's contentious relationship with Dorothy

The relationship between Rose and Dorothy has been marked by conflict and tension, ultimately resulting in their separation.

Dorothy telling police she fought with Rose and bought her a bus ticket

Dorothy reportedly had a significant altercation with Rose in mid-March at her trailer, which led to Dorothy asking Rose to leave and not return. Following the fight, Dorothy claimed to have purchased a bus ticket for Rose to return to New York, signaling the end of their cohabitation.

According to Dorothy, the last time she saw Rose was at Jim's Bar where Dorothy attempted to give Rose the bus ticket back to New York. Despite this gesture and the indication of the end of their relationship, it is unclear whether Rose accepted the ticket or the separation as final.

Dorothy writing a letter to Rose's mom about their problems

Continuing the communication about t ...

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Rose's contentious relationship with Dorothy

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • Dorothy asked Rose to leave and not return due to a significant altercation they had at Dorothy's trailer in mid-March, which led to a breakdown in their relationship.
  • Dorothy's efforts to have Rose move out of the camper indicate a significant escalation in their conflict, showing that Dorothy was actively trying to end their cohabitation. This action suggests that Dorothy was determined to enforce boundaries and separate herself from Rose, highlighting th ...

Counterarguments

...

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Rose Marie Gayhart (Queen of Diamonds, New York)

Multiple reports of Rose seen getting into a red pickup truck before vanishing

Several witnesses, including Dorothy, a bar patron, and Rose's employer, have reported seeing Rose with a man in a red pickup truck on the day she disappeared. However, there appears to be a lack of police pursuit regarding this lead.

Dorothy, a bar patron, and Rose's employer reporting the red truck

Fred Riepe has corroborated accounts that Rose was seen with a man in a red pickup truck on March 17. Dorothy, who was at Jim's bar, specifically mentioned in her letter that she saw Rose leave with a guy in a red pickup truck, indicating this was the last time Rose was seen by her. According to another account, Rose was last seen getting into a pickup truck at Howie's Hot Dogs, potentially consistent with Dorothy's observation.

Police not pursuing the red truck lead

Despite the multiple mentions and witness accounts of the red pickup truck, there seems to be no docu ...

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Multiple reports of Rose seen getting into a red pickup truck before vanishing

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • Fred Riepe is a person mentioned in the text who corroborated witness accounts about Rose being seen with a man in a red pickup truck on the day she disappeared. ...

Counterarguments

  • The police may have pursued the red truck lead but did not document it thoroughly, or the documentation is not publicly available.
  • Witnesses' accounts can sometimes be unreliable or influenced by others' statements, leading to confirmation bias.
  • The police might have other leads or evidence that they consider more credible or urgent to pursue.
  • The description of a "red pickup truck" could be too vague and common, making it difficult for the police to narrow down without additional specific details.
  • There could be privacy or legal considerations preventing the release of information about the investigation into the red pickup truck owners.
  • The police might be working on the lead behind the scenes to avoid tipping off the potential suspect or to protect the integrity o ...

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Rose Marie Gayhart (Queen of Diamonds, New York)

Rose's family not reporting her missing until May 1985

Rose's family delay in reporting her as missing was based on a set of assumptions and an unexpected phone call that led to the escalation of their concerns.

The family assuming Rose was returning to New York

Initially, Rose's family was under the assumption that she was on her way back up to Dansville from Cape Coral and expected her to just show up one day. This belief likely contributed to the delay in realizing that Rose might be missing, as the family was waiting for her to return on her own.

A call from Dorothy's ex-husband prompting them to file a report

The family's decision to finally file a missing person report was prompted by a phone call from Dorothy's ex- ...

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Rose's family not reporting her missing until May 1985

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • Dansville is a town in upstate New York, known for its rural setting and small-town charm. Cape Coral is a city in southwest Florida, famous for its waterfront lifestyle and access to the Gulf of Mexico. The distance between Dansville and Cape Coral is significant, with Dansville being in the northern part of the United States and Cape Coral in the southern part. The mention of these locations in the text indicates a long distance that Rose would have had to travel if she were indeed making her way back from Cape Coral to Dansville.
  • Rose and Dorothy are related, with Dorothy being Rose's daughter. Dorothy's ex-husband is mentioned in the text, indicating that Dorothy was previously married. The relationship between Rose and Dorothy is significant in the context of the story, as Dorothy's ex-husband's call played a role in prompting Rose's family to report her missing.
  • Dorothy's ex-husband's significance lies in his unexpected call to Rose's family, expressing surprise at her absence. This call prompted the fami ...

Counterarguments

  • The family's assumption that Rose was returning to New York may have been based on incomplete or misunderstood information, which could have been clarified with more direct communication.
  • It is possible that the family's expectation for Rose to show up on her own was overly optimistic or based on past patterns of behavior that did not account for unusual circumstances.
  • The delay in reporting could be seen as a lack of urgency or understanding of the potential risks associated with someone being unaccounted for, which might suggest a need for better awareness about the importance of timely reporting.
  • Relying on an external prompt, such as a call from Dorothy's ex-husband, to take action ...

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Rose Marie Gayhart (Queen of Diamonds, New York)

Police investigations focusing on Dorothy and Bobby

In the light of Rose's mysterious disappearance, police investigations are closing in on two individuals, Dorothy and Bobby, both of whom have been presenting perplexing and often contradictory stories.

Bobby and Dorothy denying involvement but giving strange stories

Bobby and Dorothy have both denied any involvement in Rose's disappearance but have provided odd explanations that have raised suspicions.

Bobby assured Rose’s family that she was okay and even claimed that the FBI had been in contact with her, a statement which later proved to be untrue. In another instance, Bobby told his boss the same story about the FBI, which further compounded doubt regarding his truthfulness.

Dorothy reported a significant argument at her trailer, after which she asserted that she had kicked Rose out. She went as far as making a formal statement to the sheriff's office declaring that Rose was not welcome back into her home.

Furthermore, Dorothy's narrative aligns with Bobby’s claim that he had not seen or talked to Rose since mid-March, believing she migh ...

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Police investigations focusing on Dorothy and Bobby

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • The argument at Dorothy's trailer is significant because it was reported as a pivotal event before Rose's disappearance. Dorothy claimed to have kicked Rose out following this argument, indicating a potential motive or trigger for the events that followed. This incident could provide insight into the dynamics between the individuals involved and shed light on the circumstances leading up to Rose's disappearance.
  • Bobby made false claims about the FBI contacting Rose, both to her family and his boss, which later turned out to be untrue. These statements raised suspicions about his credibility and involvement in the case. The inconsistency in his story added to the doubts surrounding his role in the events leading to Rose's disappearance.
  • The inconclusive polygraph exam taken by Bobby is significant because it failed to provide a clear determination of his truthfulness regarding ...

Counterarguments

  • The focus on Dorothy and Bobby might be too narrow, potentially overlooking other leads or suspects.
  • Strange or contradictory stories do not necessarily indicate guilt; they could be due to confusion, fear, or misremembering.
  • The claim about the FBI could be a misunderstanding rather than an intentional falsehood.
  • Dorothy's decision to declare Rose not welcome could be a reaction to a personal dispute rather than related to her disappearance.
  • Aligning narratives between Dorothy and Bobby might be ...

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Rose Marie Gayhart (Queen of Diamonds, New York)

Rose's sister Laurie investigating the case and advocating for missing persons

Laurie Travis, intensely focused on seeking answers to her sister Rose’s disappearance, has tirelessly worked to keep the case in the public consciousness.

Laurie learning in 2016 that Bobby didn't think he was involved

After many years of searching for clues, Laurie made a significant encounter in 2016 when she approached Bobby in a bar. She inquired about her sister Rose's whereabouts; during this conversation, Bobby mentioned he did not know what had happened to Rose. He suggested that his mother, who had conflicts with Rose, could potentially be involved.

Laurie making a connection in 2021 between Rose's case and Roland Davis

Laurie's persistence in advocating for her sister led to a potential breakthrough in 2021. A friend sent her an article about the solved cold case murder of Sharon Gill in ...

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Rose's sister Laurie investigating the case and advocating for missing persons

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • Rose and Laurie are sisters. Laurie is deeply involved in seeking answers about Rose's disappearance, showing her dedication to keeping the case in the public eye. Their bond as siblings drives Laurie's relentless efforts to uncover the truth behind Rose's vanishing.
  • Bobby is a person who was approached by Laurie in a bar in 2016 regarding her missing sister, Rose. During their conversation, Bobby mentioned that he did not know what happened to Rose and suggested that his mother, who had conflicts with Rose, might be involved in her disappearance. This interaction with Bobby provided Laurie with a new lead to consider in her search for answers about Rose's case.
  • Laurie connected Roland Davis to Sharon Gill's case through DN ...

Counterarguments

...

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Rose Marie Gayhart (Queen of Diamonds, New York)

Key suspect Roland Davis killed in 2022 before being questioned about Rose

Laurie Travis and Detective Joshua Monstor discovered Roland Davis’s potential connection to her sister Rose’s case through past descriptions and confessed criminal activities.

Laurie saw a mug shot of Roland from the early '90s and noted that he had the same dark, curly hair that fit the descriptions related to Rose's disappearance. Detective Joshua Monstor reviewed interview transcripts which revealed that Roland Davis admitted to being in Cape Coral, which is where Rose was last seen. Davis had confessed to picking up women and killing prostitutes while driving a truck—details that coincided with the circumstances surrounding the Rose case.

Roland confessing to other murders putting himself in the area at the time

Laurie was informed by Ja ...

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Key suspect Roland Davis killed in 2022 before being questioned about Rose

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • Cape Coral is significant in the case because it is where Rose was last seen before her disappearance. Roland Davis admitted to being in Cape Coral, which aligns with the timeline of Rose's case. Davis's confession about being in Cape Coral and his criminal activities in the area raised suspicions about his potential involvement in Rose's disappearance.
  • James Cannon provided Laurie Travis with information about Roland Davis, revealing that Davis had been a suspect in Rose's disappearance from the beginning. Cannon mentioned that Davis had been questioned previously but was not known to be a serial killer at that time. Unfortunately, further questioning of Davis was not possible as he was killed in 2022 before more information could be gathered about Rose's case.
  • The reason Roland Davis was killed bef ...

Counterarguments

  • The identification based on a mugshot from the early '90s may not be reliable due to changes in appearance over time.
  • Being in the same area and having a similar appearance to a suspect description does not necessarily mean Roland was involved in Rose's case.
  • Confessions to other crimes do not automatically implicate Roland in Rose's disappearance without direct evidence linking him to the specific incident.
  • Previous questioning without sufficient evidence to charge Roland suggests that there may have been a lack of co ...

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