A man who was once ruled out as a suspect in the 1979 death of a 17-year-old girl is now under suspicion, according to the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office in California. Esther Gonzalez, 17, was sexually assaulted and killed while walking from her parents’ house in Beaumont to her sister’s house in Banning on Feb. 10, 1979.
Lewis Randolph “Randy” Williamson reported finding her body the next day in a snowpack off a highway near Banning. Initially, Williamson was described as “argumentative” by deputies when he reported her death. Despite passing a polygraph test and being cleared of any wrongdoing, he is now considered a suspect in the case. Williamson passed away in Florida in 2014.
Investigators never compared Williamson’s DNA to the evidence recovered from Gonzalez’s body due to the lack of available technology at the time. However, a sample of Williamson’s blood collected during his autopsy was recently tested, confirming that his DNA matches the DNA recovered from Gonzalez’s body.
The Riverside County Regional Cold Case Homicide Team is seeking information from the public regarding Gonzalez’s case and any potential victims of Williamson. Polygraph tests, which are known to be unreliable, were initially used to clear Williamson of suspicion in the case.
It is crucial for the public to come forward with any relevant information that may assist authorities in bringing justice to Esther Gonzalez and potentially uncovering other victims of the suspect. The advancements in DNA technology have allowed for a new perspective on cold cases like this one, shedding light on previously unsolved mysteries.
If you have any information related to this case or believe you may have relevant details, please contact the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office or the Riverside County Regional Cold Case Homicide Team. Your assistance could be instrumental in providing closure to the family of Esther Gonzalez and other potential victims of this suspect.
