Remains Identified as Missing Resident of Thousand Oaks

The search for Nancy Huter, a Thousand Oaks woman who disappeared in Malibu Creek State Park more than 1 1/2 years ago, ended Wednesday when forensic experts identified remains uncovered by a fire near Point Mugu as those of the missing woman.

A forensic dentist confirmed that the skeletal remains discovered on the fringe of Mugu Lagoon last Thursday belonged to Huter, a 36-year-old ad saleswoman who disappeared March 3, 1992.

Medical examiners have been unable to determine how Huter died, but they are treating the death as a probable homicide, said Jim Wingate, senior deputy coroner.

“Since most of the body was intact, our belief is the body was placed there and had not been moved before we found it,” Wingate said. The body was discovered by utility crews near Pacific Coast Highway after fire destroyed the high brush that covered the site.

The coroner’s office used X-rays to search for possible bullet fragments but found none, Wingate said. Because the remains were found in a marshy area, they were very fragile, he added. Medical examiners will not complete their study of the remains until today or Friday, Wingate said.

Navy investigators were originally in charge because the body was found inside the perimeter fence of the Point Mugu Naval Air Weapons Station. They have since turned the case over to the Ventura County sheriff’s major crimes unit.

Huter was reported missing by her parents when she failed to report to work and missed a Bible study class. Sheriff’s investigators immediately treated the report as serious because Huter, a single woman who lived with a female roommate, led an orderly and predictable life, Sheriff’s Lt. Craig Husbands said.

“She was a very responsible person, hard-working, very religious and friendly,” Husbands said. “That’s why when she failed to keep some appointments, people were concerned right away that something was wrong.”

A ranger at Malibu Creek State Park later reported seeing Huter walking along Mulholland Highway near the rain-swollen Las Virgenes Creek a day before she was reported missing. The sighting occurred shortly after Huter’s last known business appointment at a Canoga Park restaurant.

Huter’s white Honda Accord hatchback was found in the park three days after her disappearance. Although her purse was missing from the car, detectives found no sign of a struggle. Searchers also discovered Huter’s western-style boots near Las Virgenes Creek, the last piece of evidence discovered despite extensive searches.

Huter’s family and friends distributed more than 20,000 flyers, some as far away as New York, in their attempt to locate Huter. Volunteers used trained dogs to search nearly the entire length of Las Virgenes and Malibu creeks, but to no avail.

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At one point, frustrated sheriff’s investigators followed up on tips furnished by psychics, again with no success.

Bob Huter, the father of Nancy Huter, said Wednesday the news of his daughter’s death elicited mixed emotions.

“We have known that this could be the end of our search, but it is still a kick in the head to find out for certain,” Huter said.

“Nancy was a gregarious person,” he said. “Her office manager said if anyone knew her they couldn’t harm her. This is so shocking.”

Husbands said investigators will re-interview everyone who knew Huter.

“We will try to piece together her last couple days and figure out what happened,” Husbands said.