Evelyn Consuela Rosemann

Status:

Open

Jurisdiction:

National Park Service Investigative Services Branch (DC)

Death Location:

Yosemite National Park, California

Summary:

Evelyn Consuela Rosemann, 24, a masseuse working in Yosemite National Park, was found dead at the base of Nevada Falls on October 19, 1968. Her body showed evidence of sexual assault and investigators suspected foul play, though her death remains unsolved. The FBI investigated because the incident occurred in a U.S. National Park.

Vital Statistics

Circumstances of Death:

On October 16, 1968, Evelyn Consuela Rosemann, a San Francisco resident working as a masseuse in Yosemite National Park, set out on a solo hike. Three days later, on October 19, her battered body was discovered by hikers approximately 200 feet from the base of Nevada Falls, a 594-foot waterfall. According to investigators, authorities estimated she had been dead for about a week. Rosemann was found partially undressed, with her corduroy pants pulled down near her ankles and her sweater pulled over her head. Another sweater was found on a rock near her feet, and her purse was found on the bridge above Nevada Falls. The autopsy revealed massive head injuries consistent with the fall and determined that she had been sexually assaulted, with evidence of bloodless vaginal lacerations suggesting the assault occurred either at or near the time of death. Investigators determined she had either fallen or been thrown from the top of the falls. Given that the creek was very low in October and would not have carried her body to where it was found, and considering the body's distance from the point of impact, police concluded she had been "launched" from the cliff rather than fallen naturally.

Additional Details:

The investigation was conducted by the FBI due to the incident occurring in a U.S. National Park. Mariposa County Coroner Sheriff Norman Garrett confirmed that Rosemann had been sexually assaulted. Investigators noted that there were "some aspects that need to be cleared up" and would not clarify the suspicious circumstances to the press. Under-Sheriff Paul Paige noted that while every bone in her body was broken as expected from such a fall, other aspects of her condition were not consistent with a 300-foot fall, particularly that her flesh and skin were completely intact with no tears. The body had been moved from the original point of impact, with traces of her pants material found closer to the falls. Parts of her brain were found on a rock approximately 50 feet from her body. Rosemann had previously worked as a topless waitress before becoming a masseuse. According to one source, she was also known as Evelyn Giesse and was a native of Poland. The case remains unsolved to this day, with no arrests ever made. The National Park Service kept the death low profile and did not publicize the incident or issue warnings to park visitors. The FBI case file remains classified as an open case and information is not available for public release.

Case Last Updated:

Oct 23, 2026