ACTION 8 UPDATE: New information in mystery surrounding Opelika woman who vanished in 1980

OPELIKA, Ala. (WAKA) – Action 8 News is staying on top of a cold case murder mystery that stretches from Opelika all the way to Southern California.

As we have reported, 29-year-old Victoria Jean Hargrove vanished from her home in Opelika in January of 1980.

No one knew what happened to her until last month, when DNA testing connected her to the body of a woman who was found in a 35-foot ravine in Riverside County, California, near Palm Desert. The body was found just three weeks after Hargrove disappeared, but no one ever made the connection until now.

1978 Datsun B-210 that belonged to Victoria Jean Hargrove – Photo from Opelika Police Department

The next piece of the mystery involves her car — a 1978 Datsun. It had been discovered at a hotel in Las Vegas, and witnesses said they saw a man driving it, but didn’t see her.

Police say Hargrove was recently divorced, and investigators believe she might have been in a relationship with a co-worker.

She told her family that she was leaving town and would call them when she reached her destination. But that call never came.

Police say witnesses identified the man driving the car as her co-worker. He returned to the Opelika area about eight months after she disappeared, in August 1980.

Police say he had given conflicting statements about why he was driving the car and where he had been in early 1980.

This case is now considered an active investigation. It is being led by the Regional Cold Case Homicide Team in California, with help from Opelika police.

If you have information, call Opelika police at (334) 705-5220 or the Riverside County, California, Sheriff’s Office at (951) 955-0070.