Jana was last seen by her friends after an Eric Clapton concert on August 17, 2001. Her husband, Bruce Koklich, told authorities that his wife returned to their home in the 2220 block of Lewis Street in Lakewood Country Club, California late that evening. A photo of Bruce is posted below this case summary. Her friends stated that she did not drink alcohol during the concert, as Jana had an early morning appointment with her personal trainer on August 18. Her trainer said that she never called to cancel the appointment and never arrived as scheduled. Jana had never missed an appointment with her trainer in two years. Her mother said that she called Jana during the day on August 18 and left several messages on her answering machine at home, but Jana never returned the calls, which was very uncharacteristic of her.

Jana and Bruce worked together as realtors with RE/MAX International Inc.'s Seal Beach Office in California. Bruce claimed that Jana was extremely busy from August 18 - 20 and overlooked the calls and appointment with her trainer. He said that he last saw his wife when he departed from their residence between 6:00 and 6:30 a.m. on August 20. Bruce said he looked at several properties and arrived at their office in the 3900 block of Atlantic Avenue at approximately 8:30 a.m. He said he attended a funeral from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. when he returned to the office. Bruce stated he became concerned about Jana when she did not arrive at work by 11:00 a.m. and called her cellular phone, which she normally turned off, and their residence. He drove to their home with a friend after she failed to answer his call and he realized she was missing. Bruce said he summoned an unidentified friend from the Long Beach Police Department and called the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department at approximately 3:00 p.m.

An extensive search produced no evidence as to Jana's whereabouts. Her 1996 white Nissan Pathfinder sports utility vehicle (SUV) remained missing until August 27, when authorities discovered it was parked in a vacant garage in the 2400 block of California Avenue in the Signal Hill area, approximately four miles from the Kokliches' residence. A group of teenagers said they found the SUV abandoned at approximately 8:00 a.m. on August 20. They took it for a joyride and also rifled through Jana's personal belongings in the vehicle, including her cellular phone, purse and wallet. They did not realize the SUV was involved in a possible murder investigation until one week later, when they came forward with their evidence.

Bruce had two polygraph examinations scheduled with authorities, but he never arrived for either appointment. He stated that his attorney and friends in law enforcement recommended he avoid the lie detector tests, calling them "unreliable."

Investigators have stated that Bruce remains a possible suspect in Jana's disappearance. Her family said that it is extremely uncharacteristic of Jana to leave without warning. Her father, former California state senator Paul Carpenter, was ill with prostate cancer and died in late January 2002. A photo of Carpenter is posted below this case summary. Jana was very close to both of her parents, who were divorced. Jana's stepmother said that she and Jana's father believed that Jana had been murdered sometime after August 17. They pretended to support Bruce publicly until December 2001 in the hopes that he would divulge information concerning Jana's whereabouts. Carpenter told reporters in 2001 that he believed Bruce murdered Jana because she wanted a divorce and he did not want to split their marital assets.

Bruce and Jana's employees have stated that they do not believe Bruce was connected to Jana's case. They described the Kokliches' marriage as a good relationship and said he would never harm his wife. Bruce said that a group of his co-workers searched the surrounding areas for signs of Jana on August 20 and spoke to a witness who claimed to have seen a woman in the back of an SUV earlier in the day. Authorities said that they have been unable to locate the witness for questioning. Bruce also stated that he believed Jana may have been the victim of a possible carjacking, a scenario investigators have dismissed. Authorities said that a carjacker would have most likely stolen Jana's purse and other belongings.

Bruce was arrested and charged with Jana's murder on January 31, 2002. He pleaded innocent to the charges in court in early February 2002. Authorities said that a small amount of Jana's blood was discovered in the bedroom of the couple's residence. Blood stains were also found inside the cargo area of her vehicle. Her body has never been located; authorities said that they have not located any evidence to suggest that it will be.

The trial began in February 2003, but it was declared a mistrial in March 2003, when the jury deadlocked. A new trial began in May 2003. Bruce was convicted of second-degree murder in October 2003. He faces fifteen years to life in prison.

Left: Bruce Koklich, circa 2001; Right: Carpenter, circa 2001