It took eight years. Eight years for a construction crew in Chandler, Arizona, to move a pile of dirt and finally uncover the truth that Rick Valentini had buried. For nearly a decade, the Jamie Laiaddee cause of death was a question mark hanging over a "no-body" murder conviction that felt like a legal tightrope walk.
Honestly, the story is heartbreaking. Jamie was a high-achiever, a University of Michigan graduate who moved to the desert and ended up living with a man who basically didn't exist. He called himself Bryan Stewart. He claimed they were fellow Wolverines. In reality, he was a con artist named Rick Valentini with a string of ex-wives and a history of manipulation.
When Jamie disappeared on St. Patrick’s Day in 2010, nobody noticed for ten weeks. That is the part that still stings. She was a bit of a loner, and Valentini used that. He told everyone she just up and moved to Colorado to start over. He even kept using her credit cards and driving her car while her family wondered why she wasn't returning their calls.
The Grim Discovery in a Chandler Landscaping Yard
For years, the case was a stalemate. Prosecutors had enough to convict Valentini of second-degree murder in 2011—thanks in part to a cellmate who snitched—but they didn't have Jamie. They didn't have a crime scene. No blood. No body.
Then came June 2018.
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Workers at a landscaping supply company near Price and Warner roads started digging into a mound of dirt that hadn't been touched in years. They found human remains. Within days, dental records confirmed what the Chandler Police Department already suspected: it was Jamie.
Why the Jamie Laiaddee cause of death is still medically "undetermined"
Here is the thing about finding remains after eight years in the Arizona heat. Nature is brutal. While the discovery gave her parents, Thai immigrants who had never stopped searching, a place to mourn, the medical examiner faced a nearly impossible task.
Because the body was in a state of advanced decomposition—basically skeletal remains by the time they were found—the official Jamie Laiaddee cause of death remains listed as "undetermined" by the Maricopa County Medical Examiner.
But we aren't totally in the dark.
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The Shotgun Confession
While the coroner couldn't point to a specific mark on a bone, the trial provided a much darker narrative. A fellow inmate testified that Valentini bragged about the killing. According to that testimony, Valentini admitted to killing Jamie with a sawed-off shotgun.
He supposedly told the inmate that he disposed of her body in a way that "she would never be found." He almost got away with it. If that landscaping company hadn't decided to clear that specific pile of dirt in 2018, he might have been right.
The timeline of the tragedy looks something like this:
- March 17, 2010: Jamie is seen for the last time.
- May 2010: Her father finally reports her missing after ten weeks of silence.
- 2011: Rick Valentini is convicted of second-degree murder and fraud.
- June 2018: Jamie's remains are finally discovered.
A Life Stolen by a "Flim-Flam" Man
It is easy to wonder how a smart woman like Jamie fell for it. But Valentini was a pro. He wasn't just some guy; he was a "chameleon" who mirrored her interests. He joined the local University of Michigan alumni club specifically to meet people. He was a personal trainer. He was fit, he was "charming," and he was a parasite.
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By the time Jamie lost her high-paying medical sales job in 2009, she was isolated. Valentini was living off her, driving the car she bought, and when she finally decided she was done with him, he chose to end her life rather than lose the lifestyle she provided.
He is currently serving a 54-year prison sentence. Even after her body was found, he didn't show remorse. He didn't lead them there. He just sat in his cell while the dirt eventually gave up his secret.
What we can learn from this case
The tragedy of Jamie Laiaddee isn't just about a murder; it’s about the "stranger beside me" phenomenon. It highlights the importance of vetting the people we let into our inner circles, especially when they seem too perfect.
If you are looking for closure on this case, the discovery of her remains was the final chapter. It didn't change Valentini's sentence—he was already put away for life—but it allowed her family to take her home.
Next Steps for True Crime Followers:
- Verify identities: In the digital age, a simple background check can reveal if a "Bryan Stewart" is actually a "Rick Valentini."
- Trust your gut: If a partner is living off your income and isolating you from friends, that's a massive red flag.
- Stay connected: Jamie’s disappearance went unnoticed because she had stopped reaching out. If a friend goes quiet, keep knocking.
The truth came out eventually. It just took a long time and a lot of moved earth.