Remains Of Missing South Bay Woman Found

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA – A skull and other remains have been determined to be those of a missing Manhattan Beach woman who had Alzheimer's disease, her husband said Wednesday. Nancy Paulikas was missing for more than two years.

Paulikas, who had early-onset Alzheimer's disease, was 55 years old when she wandered away from her husband at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art on Oct. 15, 2016.

Her death was confirmed after a charred partial skull was found on a mountainside, according to the county coroner's office, which listed her date of death as March 11, 2017.

The remains were found on a steep hillside that burned above Sherman Oaks on that date.

The coroner's office listed her cause and manner of death as undetermined.

Her husband, Kirk Moody, said he heard from police that the skull and some ribs were found to be Paulikas' remains.

"I heard from the police today that they have identified a skull and some ribs as positively matching Nancy's DNA," he said.

Moody said he had no details as to the cause of death, but added that "it seems clear she met her demise in an unfortunate manner."

Moody and the rest of Paulikas loved ones had been holding out hope she would be found in a care facility.

Paulikas had last been seen on security video that showed her walking west on McCarthy Vista near the time she went missing.

A $100,000 reward was offered for information leading to Paulikas' safe return.

Her husband, who met Paulikas when both worked at TRW, said he hoped her case would raise awareness and "inspire efforts to better address issues with at-risk people going missing."

Paulikas was the inspiration for the LA Found, a countywide program to find individuals using trackable bracelets, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn said.

"I am heartbroken," Hahn said. "For two years we have kept hope alive that Nancy would be found safe and could be reunited with her family. I want to thank everyone who continued to search for Nancy. May she rest in peace."

Related Coverage:

• LAPD Officer's Chilling Theory About Missing Woman
• 2 Years After She Disappeared, Family Offers $100K For Her Return
• New Technology Inspired By Alzheimer's Patient Who Disappeared
• Missing Manhattan Beach Woman: Family Hoping For 'Miracle' 6 Months In

City News Service contributed to this post; Photo via Manhattan Beach Police Department