After 45 years, a breakthrough in forensic science due to DNA has provided the Gonzalez family with long-awaited answers. The tragic murder of 17-year-old Esther Gonzalez, whose body was discovered in February 1979 in Banning, California, was finally solved thanks to DNA evidence and forensic genealogy.
A Cold Case Finally Solved
Esther Gonzalez had been walking to her sister’s house when she was attacked, raped, and murdered. Her body was found the next day, but despite years of investigation, her killer remained unidentified. In an unusual twist, the man who reported finding her body, Lewis Randolph “Randy” Williamson, was initially considered a witness and even passed a polygraph test, clearing him at the time.
However, as forensic techniques advanced, investigators continued to revisit the case. In 2023, they sent evidence to a Texas lab specializing in forensic genealogy, a method that uses DNA to generate leads through family connections. The breakthrough came when Williamson’s DNA, collected from his autopsy after his death in 2014, matched semen recovered from the crime scene.
While Williamson passed a polygraph and was cleared in 1979, DNA technology was not available at that time. This development finally provided closure for the Gonzalez family, who had waited decades for justice. Elizabeth Gonzalez, Esther’s sister, expressed a mix of relief and sorrow upon hearing the news, saying, “We are very happy that we finally have closure, but a little sad that he won’t spend any time for her murder.”
The case, which had been part of Riverside County’s cold case unit for five years, is a testament to the power of modern forensic techniques. Investigator Jason Corey expressed hope that this case would encourage further use of DNA and genealogy in solving cold cases. The Gonzalez family can now begin to heal, knowing that Esther’s killer has been identified, even if he will not face trial.
