An Oxnard man was arrested and charged this week in reference to two 1981 “chilly case” homicides wherein he is accused of strangling the younger ladies, together with one who was raped, Ventura County prosecutors mentioned.
Tony Garcia, a 68-year-old Navy veteran and karate instructor, was taken into custody Tuesday by authorities and charged with two counts of homicide, in addition to an enhancement for alleged rape, in keeping with Ventura County Dist. Atty. Erik Nasarenko.
“This suspect has been hiding in plain website for greater than 40 years,” Ventura County Sheriff Jim Fryhoff mentioned at a Thursday information convention saying the fees.
The arrest is the fruits of a decades-long investigation into the deaths of Rachel Zendejas, who was 20 when she was killed on Jan. 17, 1981, and Lisa Gondek, 21, who was killed in December of the identical yr.
Rachel Zendejas, a single mom of two, was discovered lifeless Jan. 17, 1981.
(Ventura County Sheriff’s Workplace)
Zendejas, a mom of two, was killed after an evening out in Camarillo. She had employed babysitters that night to deal with her younger daughters, authorities mentioned. The only mom, who was taking industrial artwork courses at Oxnard Group Faculty, drove the babysitters’ dwelling and was accosted whereas returning to her automotive, investigators consider.
Her physique was discovered the subsequent morning by a pair of supply boys, who referred to as police. Zendejas’ explanation for demise was strangulation, and the health worker additionally discovered that she had been sexually assaulted, Fryhoff mentioned.
On Dec. 12 of the identical yr, simply 10 miles away, Lisa Gondek was dropped off at her condominium in Oxnard round 1:30 a.m. after an evening out with mates, Police Chief Jason Benitez mentioned.
Lisa Gondek, 21, was additionally discovered lifeless after an evening out in 1981.
(Ventura County Sheriff’s Workplace)
An hour and a half later, a neighbor referred to as police alerting them to a hearth coming from her condominium. Firefighters discovered her physique within the bathtub, and her explanation for demise was decided to be strangulation, in keeping with Benitez.
“Two generations of detectives have been engaged on this case,” Benitez mentioned about Gondek’s killing. “We’ve been acquainted with this case for a few years and are glad to see it closed.”
Regardless of the same nature of the homicides, the circumstances weren’t linked till 2004, when forensic investigators discovered a hyperlink between the suspect DNA profile within the two circumstances. However each circumstances went chilly once more when detectives ran out of leads.
It took one other 19 years earlier than investigators had been capable of pin down Garcia as a suspect within the murders utilizing “genetic family tree,” which is the creation of household historical past profiles utilizing DNA and conventional genealogical strategies.
Prosecutors and investigators declined to provide further info on what led them to Garcia.
