It’s been two years since Anna Marie Scott was murdered, and still, law enforcement remains silent
Submitted by Kelsey Penrose on Sat, 02/03/2024 - 12:50pm
On a chilly February morning in 2022, early morning commuters on I-580 through Washoe Valley were met with a horrific sight: a car in the southbound lanes was fully consumed in fire.
When first responders arrived, the situation became far more grisly when it was discovered that the body of a young woman, later to be identified as 23-year-old Anna Marie Scott, was inside of the trunk.
There were no witnesses to the abandonment of the vehicle, or it being set on fire.
Since the discovery of Scott’s body, information regarding the case has been frustratingly lacking.
Despite Scott’s body being discovered on Feb. 3, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office did not release her identity until Feb. 7, even though numerous social media posts from friends and family had already been posted regarding her death.
A full month passed before the Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner released information that Scott had been killed by a gunshot wound, officially naming her death a homicide.
In the two years since Scott was murdered, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office has released no new information despite multiple requests.
Basic questions such as the make, model, and color of the car she was found in, and who it was registered to, have never been answered.
It’s been asked numerous times what Scott’s movements were in the 48 hours leading up to her death, and this too, has never received an answer.
The sheriff’s office has never held a press conference regarding Scott’s case, though it has issued press releases asking anyone in the community to come forward if they have information that is pertinent. However, without releasing information regarding when or where Scott may have been leading up to her death, the community may not have known what information to provide.
The only lead
There may have been one lead on the case which was quickly cut short when 23-year-old Jacori Shaw was killed by police in Reno.
Shaw was never named as a suspect in Scott’s death, but was wanted for questioning as he may have had information relating to the crime.
However, police were never able to determine what, if anything, he knew, as he was shot and killed during a foot chase on Feb. 23.
In October 2023, the Washoe County District Attorney’s Office determined the shooting was justified despite the fact that body cam video contradicted many of the statements given by officers involved.
Specifically, Shaw was killed after a Sparks police officer involved in the chase believed he had a gun. However, multiple other officers on scene stated they hadn’t seen a weapon, or if they did believe he had a weapon, had thrown it prior to him being shot. The gun could not be located for a significant amount of time despite multiple agencies combing the area for the weapon, and its discovery was never recorded either on body cam footage or in the official report.
More on the inconsistencies regarding Shaw’s death here.
Following Shaw’s death, which took place twenty days after Scott’s body was discovered, no new further information has ever been released regarding her case.
On the one year anniversary, when Carson Now reached out again to ask about the vehicle, Scott’s movements, and potential suspects, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office declined to respond but instead, issued a press release again asking for anyone with information to come forward.
“Detectives’ primary goal is to solve Scott’s homicide, and to bring justice to Scott and her loved ones,” the release said.
The plight of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women
Scott’s death is unfortunately just one of many unsolved murders of indigenous women, who have murder rates ten times higher than any other ethnicity nationwide.
Despite occurring at a higher rate, most of the disappearances and murders of indigenous women go unsolved.
In stark contrast, the disappearance and eventual murder of 18-year-old Naomi Irion who was kidnapped March 12, received significant attention from the press, ultimately making international headlines.
Following her disappearance, law enforcement agencies held multiple press conferences updating the public on all information known, organized search parties, and released a number of press releases.
In March, two press releases regarding Scott’s case were issued: one, telling the public to only rely on information officially released by WCSO, and at the end of March, a short release stating there was no connection between Scott’s case and Irion’s.
Naomi Irion was kidnapped on March 12, her body discovered on March 29, identity confirmed on March 30 along with her suspected killer taken into custody, and a criminal complaint was amended to include the cause of death on April 5, spanning less than four weeks from beginning to end.
On Friday, when asked for any updates in Scott’s case as we come up to the two-year anniversary of her death, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office simply did not to respond at all.
If anyone has information regarding this case that could help detectives determine Scott’s movements and contacts throughout the hours and days preceding February 3, 2022, can call the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Detective Division at (775) 328-3320. Refer to case number: WC22-563.
