Cold case investigators, employing advanced DNA analysis techniques, have successfully unveiled the identity of the 'lady in the fridge' nearly three decades after her lifeless form was discovered submerged in a canal, hands bound, and mouth silenced in 1995. The victim, previously unknown, now bears the name Amanda Lynn Schumann Deza. Her remains were concealed within a refrigerator at Whiskey Slough, a marina and boat storage facility situated in Holt, a community within San Joaquin County.
The grim revelation occurred in March 1995 when a man, searching for recyclable cans, pulled a refrigerator from the water. To his horror, he uncovered a woman's body wrapped in a blanket and tarp. Detectives speculated that the deceased had lain undiscovered within the refrigerator for approximately six months. At the time, a forensic examination determined that the woman met her demise due to blunt force trauma.
Deza, a mother of three, vanished without any identification, and no missing persons reports were ever filed. The case remained dormant for decades until a breakthrough emerged when detectives utilized DNA analysis in conjunction with traditional genealogical research. On a Thursday, the San Joaquin County authorities disclosed the identity of the enigmatic 'lady in the fridge.' Sheriff Patrick Withrow remarked, 'I'd like to take this moment to restore her name and recount her story.'
Lt. Linda Jimenez, overseeing the Sheriff’s Office cold case unit and detective division, revealed that the victim had resided in the Napa, Oakley, and Delta areas. However, information about her life and activities in the years preceding her murder remains scarce.
Jimenez noted that individuals had searched for Deza after her disappearance, but no missing person's report was ever lodged. Sheriff Withrow suggested that Deza seemed to be navigating through challenging times, and her family was profoundly shocked by news of her demise.
Collaborating with Othram, a Texas-based forensic genealogy company, the San Joaquin County Medical Examiner and Sheriff's Office fashioned a DNA profile for Amanda Lynn Schumann Deza. This information played a pivotal role in generating investigative leads. Connecting with the victim's mother and daughter, who provided DNA samples confirming the matches, was a crucial aspect of this progress.
'Amanda is a daughter, a sister, a mother, and a friend,' expressed Jimenez during a press briefing. District Attorney Ron Freitas, present at the conference, emphasized that the case was far from closure, and justice was yet to be served. He anticipated prosecuting the perpetrator to the fullest extent of the law to bring genuine closure to the family.
Despite the revelation of Deza's identity, her killer(s) remain at large. Stockton CrimeStoppers is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for any pertinent information
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