Laurie Diane Potter was a woman whose severed legs were found inside of a dumpster in Rancho San Diego, California in 2003. In June 2020, authorities began working with a genetic genealogy team to investigate her case.
In May 2021, it was announced that she had been identified as Laurie Potter of Temecula, California, who was never reported missing. Her husband, Jack Potter, later plead guilty to her murder.
Case[]
On October 5, 2003, a pair of severed legs were discovered inside of a dumpster on the 1600 block of Hilton Head Court in Rancho San Diego, California. While investigators were able to identify that the pair of legs belonged to a female that had been a victim of murder and that she had been killed 1-2 days before her discovery, they were unable to conclusively determine her identity or her killer. Her case had remained cold for 17 years.
Identification[]
In June 2020, authorities began working with a genetic genealogy team to build a family tree for Potter and trace any links to her. A few months later, her son had been found in the family tree and contacted.
In May 2021, Potter was identified as the woman whose legs were found inside of the dumpster in 2003 through a match from her son's DNA. She had never been reported missing, despite her family not knowing of her whereabouts. During the 17 years between her disappearance and identification, she was presumed to have still been alive.
Additionally, with Potter's identification, substantial evidence was found by authorities that suspected her husband, Jack Potter, of her murder and dismemberment. On May 12, 2021, Mr. Potter was arrested on suspicion of his wife's murder. On February 19, 2025, he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 15 years to life in custody.
Gallery[]
Sources[]
- KTLA
- CBS Los Angeles
- KUSI-TV
- Los Angeles Daily News
- CBS 8
- Article #1 (5/14/21]
- Article #2 (2/19/25)
- San Diego County District Attorney (Facebook)