DATE / TIME: Occurred: March 18, 2006 – ARREST: November 16, 2007

LOCATION: Greyhound Rock County Park, Santa Cruz County, Calif.

TYPE OF CRIME: Homicide

VICTIM: Fatima Raquel Fernandez, 25 years of age at time of death, last residence was South San Francisco, Calif.

SUSPECT ARRESTED: Elvin Omar Aguilar, 36 years of age, a United States Citizen residing in South San Francisco, Calif.

DESCRIPTION OF INCIDENT: On Saturday, March 18, 2006 the charred remains of an unidentified female were recovered from the parking lot of the Greyhound Rock County Park in Santa Cruz County. The case was determined to be a homicide. The victim had no identification and was burned beyond recognition. During the initial investigation, Santa Cruz Sheriff’s detectives reviewed more that 200 missing persons cases in an effort to identify the homicide victim. Detectives were not able to connect any missing person case to the Greyhound Rock victim. Despite extensive media coverage and the distribution of numerous flyers to the public and law enforcement, the victim went unidentified and the investigation remained unsolved for the past 20 months.

On November 11, 2007 a resident of the City of San Bruno Calif. reported that her niece, Fatima Fernandez was missing. The report was investigated by the San Bruno Police Department. The relative reported that Fatima’s family had not seen or heard from Fatima since January of 2006. Fatima was an undocumented immigrant from Nicaragua and her immediate family still resides in Nicaragua. Fatima was last reported to reside with her boyfriend, Elvin Aguilar, and their young daughter in South San Francisco.

In their investigation, a San Bruno Police detective recalled seeing the 2006 law enforcement bulletin seeking information on the Santa Cruz County Greyhound Rock victim. On November 13, 2007 the San Bruno Police contacted Santa Cruz County Sheriff detectives to inform them of Fatima Fernandez’s missing person case. Using information obtained in the San Bruno Police report, Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office detectives began making comparisons to the unsolved homicide and determined quickly that Aguilar was a likely suspect in the disappearance of Fatima. Detectives were able to obtain copies of Fatima Fernandez’s identification from family members. Using these records and fingerprint comparison, the Santa Cruz Sheriff’s Crime Scene Investigations section was able to positively identify the Greyhound Rock homicide victim as Fatima Fernandez. Until this identification was made, Fatima’s family was unaware of her death. Early Friday afternoon Fatima’s family was briefed on the outcome of the case and notified of Fatima’s death. Fatima’s family provided Sheriff’s detectives with photographs of Fatima which will be made available for the news media upon request.

Friday morning, November 16, 2007, a search warrant for the apartment of Fatima and Elvin Aguilar was obtained along with an arrest warrant for Aguilar. Late Friday Sheriff’s detectives and Santa Cruz County District Attorney Inspectors traveled to South San Francisco to serve the warrants. Aguilar was found at home and taken into custody without incident. Aguilar was interviewed by Sheriff’s homicide Sergeant Mario Sulay. In this interview, Aguilar made admissions to the killing and indicated the homicide took place at his home in South San Francisco. Santa Cruz Sheriff’s Crime Scene Investigators processed Aguilar’s home late into Friday evening and recovered evidence relating to the homicide along with many other items of evidence. That evidence will be processed, to include DNA analysis, in the coming weeks.

With the help of the South San Francisco Police Department and the San Bruno Police Department, Sheriff’s detectives and District Attorney Inspectors were able to contact and interview both Aguilar and Fatima’s family members. Fatima’s daughter, who is now 3 years old, was located and placed in protective custody by the Child Protective Services of South San Francisco. Elvin Aguilar was transported to Santa Cruz late Friday by Sheriff’s detectives. Aguilar was booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail and his bail is currently set at $750,000.00. A booking photo of Aguilar will be made available to news media upon request.

Press inquiries, including photo requests regarding this case will be answered today, November 19, 2007 from 1PM to 3PM by calling the Sheriff’s Investigation Division line, 831-454-2311.

Prepared by: Lieutenant Phil Wowak, Sheriff’s Investigation Division