Esther Gonzalez (X/@RivCoDA)
A brutal cold case that remained unsolved for over four decades has finally come to a resolution, bringing a sense of closure to the grieving family. In February 1979, 17-year-old Esther Gonzalez disappeared while walking from her parents’ home to her sister’s in Banning, California, about 137 kilometers east of Los Angeles. Tragically, her body was found the following day in a snowpack near a highway in Riverside County, California. Authorities confirmed she had been raped and violently bludgeoned to death.
Despite extensive investigations, the case went cold, with few leads and no suspects. Over the years, a semen sample recovered from Gonzalez's body was preserved and entered into the national DNA database, the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), but remained unmatched for decades. It wasn’t until 2023 that forensic technology advanced enough to crack the case. The Riverside County cold case homicide team, with the help of a Texas-based genetic lab specializing in forensic genealogy, made a breakthrough.
DNA match confirms killer: Lewis Randolph "Randy" Williamson
The DNA evidence eventually pointed to a man named Lewis Randolph "Randy" Williamson, a US Marine Corps veteran who had died in 2014. Interestingly, Williamson had called authorities on the day Gonzalez’s body was discovered, initially reporting the body without being able to identify it. At the time, he had passed a polygraph test, clearing him of suspicion. However, with new technology, his DNA was matched to the sample taken from Gonzalez’s body, confirming that he was responsible for her rape and murder.
While the Gonzalez family finally received the closure they had longed for, the resolution came with mixed emotions. They felt relief but also sadness, knowing that Williamson, who passed away ten years ago, would never face justice. “We are happy about it but, since the guy has died, a little sad that he won’t spend any time for her murder,” said Elizabeth Gonzalez, Esther’s sister, in an interview with CNN.
The family remembers Esther as a shy yet funny young woman who brought joy to those around her. “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,” said Eddie Gonzalez, Esther’s oldest brother, on Facebook.
