In a stunning twist to a decades-old cold case, California authorities have announced that new DNA evidence points to a previously cleared suspect in the brutal 1979 rape and murder of 17-year-old Esther Gonzalez. The revelations come nearly 45 years after the teenager’s battered body was discovered in a snowbank off a highway near Banning, sending shockwaves through the tight-knit community.
A Tragic End to a Young Life
On the night of February 9, 1979, Esther Gonzalez set out on foot from her parents’ home, intending to visit her sister who lived nearby. She never arrived. The following morning, a passerby made a grim discovery – the teenager’s lifeless body, abandoned in a snowdrift along the side of the highway.
Investigators determined that Gonzalez had been viciously attacked, sexually assaulted, and bludgeoned to death, her young life cut short in an act of unthinkable violence. The brutality of the crime left the community reeling and desperate for answers.
A Suspect Emerges, Then Vanishes
In the days following the murder, a local man came forward to report finding the body. According to sources close to the investigation, deputies described the individual as “argumentative” and evasive. Identified as Lewis Randolph “Randy” Williamson, he quickly became a person of interest.
However, when asked to submit to a polygraph examination, Williamson agreed – and passed. At the time, this was sufficient for authorities to clear him of any involvement in the heinous crime. With no other strong leads, the case soon went cold, leaving Gonzalez’s family without closure.
Advances in Forensic Science Breathe New Life into Case
Over the decades, detectives refused to let Esther’s case gather dust. The Riverside County Sheriff’s cold case unit, formed five years ago, made the investigation a top priority. Despite their efforts, the puzzle pieces remained elusive – until cutting-edge DNA technology provided the break they needed.
Forensic genealogy, which uses genetic information to establish family relationships, allowed investigators to take a fresh look at evidence from the crime scene. A crucial semen sample, previously yielding no matches, was reexamined using modern techniques. The results were stunning.
A Suspect Unmasked, Answers Painfully Out of Reach
In a tragic twist of fate, the DNA profile pointed unequivocally back to Lewis Randolph Williamson – the very man who had discovered Gonzalez’s body and been cleared by a polygraph in 1979. Authorities were confident they had finally unmasked Esther’s killer, but their suspect was beyond the reach of earthly justice, having died in Florida in 2014.
Determined to gather every shred of evidence, investigators obtained a sample of Williamson’s blood, preserved from the autopsy conducted after his death. The results were conclusive, with the DNA matching the semen recovered from the crime scene. Though Williamson will never face a jury, the Gonzalez family may finally find some measure of peace in knowing the monster responsible.
The Gonzalez family would like to thank the Riverside County sheriff’s department on a job well done after 40 years the Gonzalez family has closure.
– Eddie Gonzalez, Esther’s oldest brother
As the community reflects on this bittersweet resolution, authorities are urging anyone with information about Williamson, Esther’s case, or any other potential victims to come forward. Though justice may have been delayed, the tireless efforts of investigators have ensured that it will not be denied.
