A man in California who was being investigated by police for assault with a weapon has been also charged with the murder and dismemberment of a woman, whose remains had been found in his backyard.
Stephanie Fagundes’ family reported her missing from Stockton in October. Stockton is a city with 320k residents, 90 miles east of San Francisco.
A month or so later, the police arrested a 41-year-old man named Albert Jr. Gonzales for a totally different incident in which he was accused of shooting a gun at a woman who had no relation to him.
The police found partially burnt remains in his home, which was later identified to be human.
Sergeant Veronica Esquivez, Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department, told KOVR-TV a tipper told them that a neighbor was burning something in their backyard and it appeared odd.
Esquivez stated that at first, they did not know whether the remains they had found were human or not.
Five months after the discovery, DNA testing confirmed that these remains belonged to Fagundes.
“The body was dismembered,” Esquivez explained. “It had been burned.” There was no sign of her entire body.” “There were only bits and pieces.”
Gonzalez, who has been behind bars since November, will now face new charges of murder.
Police say that despite the arrest of Fagundes, her remains are still missing. They are appealing to the public for information that could help them locate the remains, for the sake of Fagundes’ family.
Although they believe Gonzalez didn’t know Fagundes, they are still looking into the matter.
Esquivez concluded, “It is more difficult to bear when people are killed in such a gruesome manner.” “You want to do more to help them.”
Here is a local report on the horrific incident:
