Photo: Lesa A. Lopez
CASTRO VALLEY — Alameda County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested a woman for allegedly murdering her infant son 32 years ago. Children playing alongside a creek near Seaview Avenue found the dead baby stuffed inside a paper bag.
This cold case remained unsolved until investigators recently gathered new DNA evidence from the suspect’s discarded trash. Investigators were able to match DNA evidence preserved from the crime scene with the new DNA sample.
Although the mother of the infant became a suspect in 2005, analysis of DNA evidence at that time was inconclusive. It merely indicated that the suspect was a woman.
This DNA profile was entered in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) national database. However, until recently investigators were unable to match this DNA evidence with any suspect.
More advanced DNA laboratory analysis enabled investigators to reopen this cold case. It positively linked the suspect Lesa A. Lopez, 52 of Salida, to this crime committed in May 1988.
A prepared statement from the Sheriff’s Office concluded. “The unidentified female DNA profile belonged to the mother of baby John Doe, who is the suspect in this case.”
Sheriff’s deputies arrested Lopez at her home in July. She was transported from Stanislaus County back to Alameda County, where she was booked into Santa Rita Jail.
Lopez remains in custody in lieu of $2 million bond. She is charged with murder, use of a deadly weapon and causing great bodily injury. A plea hearing is scheduled for the first week of August.
