Leading to Disappearance

JANET AT SIERRA COLLEGE - ROCKLIN

In the summer of 1982, Janet decided to pursue a career in nursing, and enrolled in an accelerated Algebra class at Sierra College to meet one of the prerequisites for the pre-nursing program:

Janet was excited to get back to school, and Paul later explained how hard she worked to get a 4.0 grade in the class:

The class was Monday-Friday from 8:00-10:00 am, June 21st-July 23rd, 1982:

Janet was registered to start her fall quarter classes on Monday, September 13, 1982:

PAUL AT THE STATE FAIR - SACRAMENTO

Starting on August 24, 1982, and continuing through the Labor Day holiday on Monday, September 6th, Paul worked overtime/evening shifts at the California State Fair in Sacramento. During the fair he returned home after midnight, and slept through the morning. Paul had taken the State Fair shifts for extra pay for several years prior to 1982. 

JANET’S SURGERY

• Janet’s mother, Jean Gregoire, convinced Janet to see Jean’s plastic surgeon, Dr. Burke.  Jean asked Burke to “fix” imperfections that Jean believed impaired Janet’s appearance. 

• Jean took Janet to all of the appointments, and paid the full cost. Paul thought Janet looked naturally attractive, and he was opposed to Janet risking surgery. 

• On August 30, 1982, Dr. Burke performed scar reductions on Janet’s arm and lip (documented old car accident injuries); and on September 2nd, Janet received a breast lift and implants. 

• Since Paul was working late nights at the fair, Jean stayed at the Forest Court house with Janet and the children until Paul got home each night through September 6th. 

Profile photos of Janet Kovacich taken prior to Dr. Burke surgery

September 7, 1982

ONE DAY PRIOR TO JANET'S DISAPPEARANCE

• 8:00 am - Janet, Kristi, and John got a ride to orientation day for the new school year at St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Auburn. Janet volunteered at school, and paid the children’s tuition for the year. Paul had the day off following a “last night of the fair” event for staff that didn’t end until the early morning hours. Paul slept upstairs in the master bedroom until afternoon.

• Afternoon - Janet returned home with the children at 2:00 pm; Jean Gregoire arrived and took Janet to Dr. Burke in Sacramento for a routine follow-up visit, and they stopped in Roseville on their way home.

• Evening - Jean dropped Janet and the children off at the Kovacich residence. At about 9:00 pm, Paul left the home to pick up Kentucky Fried Chicken (40 minute round trip).

• At 9:30 pm - Frances Myres, the next door neighbor, called Janet to tell her that K-9 Adolph was loose in the driveway--it appeared that someone had opened the gate, and let the dog out after Paul drove away for KFC. In an interview with Auburn PD, Mr. Myres described the situation:

•After they discussed the dog, Mrs. Myres talked to Janet for a few minutes about routine things, and Janet told her that Paul would handle Adolph—which he did when he returned home. Nothing else unusual was reported that evening.