With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Body of Missing Woman May Be Buried Beneath Restaurant
Photo by MizGingerSnaps via Flickr
()
Excavation began yesterday in Lomita at the Thyme Contemporary Cafe, which is owned by David Viens, as authorities look for the body of Viens' wife Dawn, missing for 16 months. Officials say they expect the dig to take some time, according to LA Now, and they believe she is buried beneath the property.When David Viens hurled himself off a cliff side in Rancho Palos Verdes last week, he was fleeing from the authorities, who finally went public after months of investigating with word he was considered a prime suspect in his wife's murder. However, without a body, the murder charge is hard to make stick, and though David Viens was arrested at the hospital after he survived the jump, Los Angeles County Sheriff's detectives are intent on locating the remains.
When Dawn Viens disappeared in October 2009, David Viens did not go immediately to the authorities. After eventually reporting her missing, Viens "remodeled the cafe, adding new floors and walls that investigators now believe may be concealing his wife’s body."
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Tens of thousands of workers across Southern California walk out over pay and staffing issues. -
People in and around recent burn scars should be alert to the risk of debris flows. Typical October weather will be back later this week. -
Jet Propulsion Laboratory leadership says the cuts amount to 11% of the workforce. -
The rock legend joins LAist for a lookback on his career — and the next chapter of his music. -
Yes, it's controversial, but let me explain. -
What do stairs have to do with California’s housing crisis? More than you might think, says this Culver City councilmember.
Best of LAist