Photo: Stock Image
Written By: Jim Emerson
OAKLAND — East Bay Regional Park District police announced a suspect has been rearrested in connection with a murder. Park police have been coordinating the ongoing homicide investigation, with help from the Oakland Police Department.
The victim Donald Stanifer was stabbed to death in July 2020. His corpse was found buried in a ravine at Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve, overlooking downtown Oakland.
Ezekiel E. Akil-Espinoza, 23, of Pittsburg, was arrested November 18th at a FedEx shipping center in Hayward. Akil-Espinoza is ineligible for release on bond, pending a plea hearing on December 5th. He is charged with planning a sophisticated crime, and accessory after the fact.
In May 2021, Akil-Espinoza was arrested on suspicion of murder and conspiracy, but he was released from custody. Two other suspects were also arrested in May 2021:
- Elijah A. Jordan-Brooks, 23, of Pittsburg, is in custody ineligible for release on bond. Jordan-Brooks faces murder- and two weapons charges. His next court hearing is scheduled for December 6th.
- Marquise Johnson-Simon, 23, of Oakland, who is no longer in custody, was originally charged with murder. Recently, his charges were reduced to accessory after the fact. In a prepared statement the park district police said. “EBRPD PD has conducted hundreds of hours of investigation, interviews, and follow-up since Stanifer was murdered.”
Anyone with information about this homicide can call the park police investigations unit at (510)690-6521.
