Artistic renderings of the victim.
Artistic renderings of the victim.
Date of Discovery: March 31, 1988
Location of Discovery: Santa Ana, Orange County, California
Estimated Date of Death: Days prior
State of Remains: Not recognizable - Decomposing/putrefaction
Cause of Death: Homicide by stabbing.
Estimated Age: 22-28 years old
Race: Hispanic or White
Gender: Female
Height: 5'4"
Weight: 130lbs.
Hair Color: Black. 9" long.
Eye Color: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: She was well nourished. She had a scar measuring one inch under her navel, possibly from Laparoscopy. There were stretch marks on her abdomen. Short thumbs at tips.
Dentals: Available. Her teeth were mottled and brown. Untreated caries in teeth 3, 4 and 31.
Fingerprints: Available.
DNA: Not available.
Clothing: he was wearing a yellow tank top; white pants; 36A white bra; and white tennis shoes.
Jewelry: She was wearing gold hoop earrings in ear cuff style.
Additional Personal Items: Unknown
The victim's decapitated body was discovered at 4:00PM in the bushes near an entrance to Santiago Park in Santa Ana, California. Her head was found four days later, at the north side of the park in a dry creek bed. It is believed that the killer had placed the head at the scene after the discovery of the body, as searches for it upon the discovery were extensive.
After her head was found, it was determined that she had been stabbed a total of nine times in the face and once in the neck.
It is possible that she was from the southwestern United States or Mexico, based on examination of her teeth.
Her case was reopened in April 2015 in hopes to solve the case.
Agency Name: Orange County Sheriff's Department- Coroner Division
Agency Contact Person: Raquel Clarke, Supervising Deputy Coroner
Agency Phone Number: 714-647-7400
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: 88-01828-SC
Agency Name: Santa Ana Police Department
Agency Contact Person: N/A
Agency Phone Number: (714) 245-8665
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: 88-24532
NCIC Case Number: U305734428
NamUs Case Number: 7663
NamUs
Orange County Sheriff's Department
Orange County Register (July 5, 2014)
ABC 7 News (April 30, 2015)
Added: 12/3/2005; Last Updated: 01/28/2024
Questions or comments? Please contact appropriate member of the Area Team
** Listed information may be estimated.
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