California woman’s body found in shallow grave nearly 18 years after her murder
05/19/2022 1:31 pm PDT
OAKLAND, Calif. (TCD) -- A woman’s body was found in a shallow grave approximately 18 years after her disappearance and murder.
According to a news release from the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, Cynthia "Linda" Alonzo went missing on Thanksgiving, Nov. 24, 2004. Alonzo and her boyfriend, Eric Mora, were reportedly last seen in Oakland getting into a car to drive to Alonzo’s mother's house.
Alonzo’s body was not found at the time, but an investigation was launched, which identified Mora as the prime suspect, the District Attorney’s Office says. Years later in March 2012, Mora was tried and convicted of second-degree murder and was sentenced to 15 years to life.
Then in March 2016, Mora’s case was returned to Alameda County for trial, and in October 2016, he confessed to killing his girlfriend, according to the District Attorney’s Office. In his confession, he reportedly provided location details regarding Alonzo’s body.
However, in 2016, Alonzo’s body was not found. In June 2017, Mora was sentenced to 11 years in state prison.
On May 4, the District Attorney’s Office says a work crew discovered an uncovered human body wrapped in tarps in a shallow grave near 7th and Maritime streets on the Oakland Army Base. An autopsy report on May 12 positively identified the body as Alonzo’s.
In a statement, District Attorney Nancy E. O’Malley said, "After nearly 18 years of waiting, the family of Linda Alonzo may finally find some peace in knowing that their loved one can ultimately be laid to rest. We cannot begin to imagine the pain and unrest that her family must have felt through all this time not knowing where Linda was. Our thoughts are with them."
Deputy District Attorney Danielle London, who prosecuted the case, added, "The District Attorney’s Office fought hard for justice on behalf of Linda’s family. It was a long road to get here, and the family stuck with us along the way. We are relieved to have finally found Linda so the family can have a proper burial. For too many years, Eric Mora denied killing Linda until he confessed in 2016. May Linda finally rest in peace."
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