Rape and Murder of 17 Year Old - Mystery Solved After 43 Years
In California, the case of a 17-year-old girl who was raped and murdered 43 years ago has finally been settled. To see her sister in Banning, Esther Gonzalez had left her parents' house. She failed to make it to her sister's house, though, and her body was discovered the next day in Riverside County, California, close to a freeway.
She was raped and killed, the police discovered throughout the investigation. But the investigation continued for decades. Lewis Randolph, a veteran of the US Marine Corps, reportedly contacted the authorities on the fateful day and said he had located the corpse. He was subsequently invited to undergo a polygraph test by the police, which he passed, dispelling any suspicions.
She was raped and killed, the police discovered throughout the investigation. But the investigation continued for decades. Lewis Randolph, a veteran of the US Marine Corps, reportedly contacted the authorities on the fateful day and said he had located the corpse. He was subsequently invited to undergo a polygraph test by the police, which he passed, dispelling any suspicions.
Police never gave up despite limited resources
Notably, Randolph had previously been accused of assault as well. However, according to the Los Angeles Times, he was never found guilty of any violent offenses. Despite the lack of leads, the Riverside County cold case homicide squad decided to never give up. A sample taken from the victim's body in 1979 had also been kept by it. It has failed to locate any matches in the national Combined dna Index System (CODIS) for several decades.
Last year, as forensic technology advanced, the case finally took a turn. For forensic genealogy, the investigation team reached out to a texas genetic lab. Randolph's identity as a therapist, rapist, and murderer of the 17-year-old was verified by a blood sample taken at his 2014 autopsy.
The victim's family heaves a sigh of relief
Although the victim's relatives are now relieved that the matter is over, they also voiced remorse that Randolf won't receive justice because he passed away over ten years ago. Family relatives recall the victim as a quiet yet humorous young lady. Out of seven children, she was the fourth.