In a breakthrough for a 45-year-old cold case, authorities in California have used DNA evidence to identify the suspected killer of Esther Gonzalez, a revelation that has brought long-awaited clarity to her family.
Esther Gonzalez, 17, disappeared on February 9, 1979, as she walked to her sister’s house in Banning, California. Her body was discovered the next day in a snowpack near a highway, brutally assaulted and left beyond recognition. The man who initially reported finding her body, Lewis Randolph ‘Randy’ Williamson, was the same person who has now been identified as her suspected killer, thanks to advancements in forensic technology.
During the initial investigation, Williamson underwent a polygraph test, which he passed, effectively removing him from suspicion at that time. However, forensic genealogy has since become a pivotal tool in cold case investigations. Authorities at the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office have used this method to match DNA from the crime scene with that of Williamson, collected during an autopsy after his death in Florida in 2014.
For years, the case remained unsolved despite the efforts of Riverside County detectives who continuously scrutinized the evidence. They had even uploaded semen samples into the national DNA database, though initially, no matches were found. A breakthrough came in 2023, when items of evidence were sent to a specialized genetic lab in Texas, leading to the identification of Williamson as the suspect.
This development underscores the growing importance of forensic genealogy as an investigative tool. Investigator Jason Corey highlighted its potential to solve cold cases by accurately identifying suspects through DNA analysis, altering the course of justice for unresolved crimes.
Although Williamson had been cleared by a polygraph decades ago, DNA technology, which was unavailable at the time, ultimately unveiled him as the suspect. The culmination of this exhaustive investigation has been profoundly impactful for the Gonzalez family, providing them some measure of closure.
Elizabeth Gonzalez, Esther’s sister, expressed mixed emotions, acknowledging relief in knowing the identity of her sister’s alleged killer while lamenting that Williamson will face no legal repercussions due to his death. On social media, the family expressed gratitude to the sheriff’s department for their relentless pursuit of justice.
The resolution of this decades-old case demonstrates the power of modern forensic science in revisiting unsolved crimes, offering solace to victim’s families and serving justice, albeit delayed. This case acts as a reminder of how perseverance and technological advances can intersect to unveil long-hidden truths.
Source: WSVN
