Reconstruction of the victim by Carl Koppelman; victim's tattoos. To view a postmortem photgraph of the victim, please click here.
Identified...Identified...Identified
Reconstruction of the victim by Carl Koppelman; victim's tattoos. To view a postmortem photgraph of the victim, please click here.
Date of Discovery: July 15, 1980
Location of Discovery: Delano, Kern County, California.
Estimated Date of Death: 1 day prior
State of Remains: Recognizable face
Cause of Death: Homicide by stabbing
Estimated Age: 30-40 years old
Race: Hispanic and/or Native American
Sex: Female
Height: 5'4"
Weight: 115 lbs.
Hair: Brown, shoulder-length.
Eye Color: Brown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Victim had given birth at least once. 4" scar on abdomen, scar on left buttock. Transversely positioned 1-1/2" scar above and below left knee; possible surgical.
Vitallium plate with screws and hinged with 3-1/2" rod into left hip to stabilize left femur fracture just below the head of femur. Blood group O Positive.
Tattoos: Tattoos on each arm, one is a tattoo of a heart with the name "Shirley" in the center and it had the words "Love You" above and "Seattle" below it.
Dentals: Available. All upper teeth missing; no denture located. Lower teeth present.
Fingerprints: Available.
DNA: Sample submitted - Tests complete.
Clothing: Pink blouse, blue denim pants, size 28. Blue socks, white slip-on shoes, size 6. white panty girdle, multicolored panties.
Jewelry: Unknown.
Additional Personal Items: Unknown.
The victim was found on July 15, 1980 in a field in an almond orchard in Delano, California. She may have been from Washington. She had been sexually assaulted and stabbed to death.
She may have gone by the name "Becky" or "Rebecca Ochoa" and could have been employed at an apple orchard.
In 2015, DNA results from scrapings of her fingernails and clothing linked the woman and 1020UFCA to Wilson Chouest, a 63-year-old, who was already in prison. He did not apparently know the victims.
Chouest was convicted of the two murders in 2018 and was given life in prison.
Agency Name: Kern County Coroner's Office
Agency Contact Person: Dawn Ratliff
Agency Phone Number: 661-868-0110 or 661-868-0100
Agency E-Mail: Ratliff(at)kernsheriff.org
Agency Case Number: C586-80
Agency Name: Kern County Sheriff's Office
Agency Contact Person: Detective Karen Smith
Agency Phone Number: 661-391-7587
Agency E-Mail: Detective-Commander(at)kernsheriff.org
Agency Case Number: Unknown
NCIC Case Number: U763194382
NamUs Case Number: 14243
NamUs
Thousand Oaks Acorn
KTLA 5 News
NBC Los Angeles
ABC 23 News
Kern Golden Empire
One Missing Person
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Added: 12/3/2005; Last Updated: 1/29/19
Questions or comments? Please contact appropriate member of the Area Team
** Listed information may be estimated.
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