Reward Offered for Home Invasion Murder

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday, December 6, 2000

"Reward Offered for Home Invasion Murder"

North Hills – On Thursday, December 7, 2000, at 12:00 p.m., Devonshire Area Commanding Officer and homicide detectives will be conducting a press conference to announce the institution of a reward in an effort to generate clues from the community to assist them in apprehending murder suspects. The investigators will be releasing a composite drawing of one of the suspects believed to be known by the first name of "Cesar." Relatives of the victim will also attend the press conference. The press conference will take place in front of the apartment complex where the victim met her demise, located at 15611 Parthenia Street in North Hills.

On July 1, 1998, at approximately 12:40 p.m., Ana Maria Gonzales, a fifty-year-old victim, was found murdered inside her apartment. The attack appeared to be the result of a burglary. The victim’s residence was ransacked and an undetermined number of valuables had been stolen. The detectives have not determined whether the victim was specifically targeted. Although the attack went unwitnessed, two suspects were seen loitering outside of the apartment complex prior to the commission of the crime. Witnesses indicated the two suspects were dealing narcotics. A short time before the victim was found, the same two suspects were seen running from the apartment complex.

Suspect #1: Male, Hispanic, black hair, brown eyes, 5’4", 150 lbs., early 20’s with a possible first name of "Cesar." This suspect may also has one or more silver framed upper front teeth.

Suspect #2: Male, Hispanic, black hair, brown eyes, 5’6", 160 lbs., early 20’s.

The Los Angeles City Council, prompted by Councilman Hal Bernson, has authorized a reward of $25, 000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspects responsible for the murder of Ana Maria Gonzales.

Anyone with information should contact Devonshire Homicide Detectives Mike Oppelt or Abelardo Parga at 818-756-8291.

This media advisory was produced by Public Information Officer Jason Lee, Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.

For Release 10:00 am PST
December 4, 2000