cold case murder

Santa Maria Police detectives couldn't find a suspect at the time of the 1988 killing, but continued to work the case over the decades.

The woman known as Ventura County Jane Doe has been identified, helping to bring closure to her Los Angeles family, who had looking for her for decades.

The sister of the victim said she had given up on finding closure, but is relieved that it's happened.

Maria Belmontes Blancas has been listed as an unidentified 'Jane Doe' since January 1981, when her body was found in a Piru orchard.

New evidence led to arrest of gunman in 2023.

Two others have already been convicted and are serving life sentences for the Ventura killing.

All three victims were strangled. Authorities say DNA evidence was factor in arrest of Mississippi man.

DNA evidence used to identify suspect. He died in 1999.

70-year-old man has been in a hospital since the April 11th incident.

DNA led to an arrest in the cold case murder.