Unsolved Cases

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Cold Cases

The following is a list of unsolved homicide and/or missing persons cases held by the Kings County Sheriff’s Office. This list does not include all homicides and missing persons for Kings County. Cases being investigated by other local law enforcement entities will not be on this list. This list will be updated as new information is received or progress is made on a case. Some information and/or cases may not be available or listed due to the investigative status of a case.

A case is considered unsolved and eligible to be placed in this database if:

There are no known suspects or suspects have been identified but the case lacks sufficient evidence needed to meet probable cause requirements for prosecution.
The Kings County Sheriff’s Office is the primary investigating agency on this case.
The case occurred in 2019 or earlier.

If you have information to share with our office about a case, please contact our Crime Tip Line at 559-852-4554, email detectives@countyofkings.com, or click here to submit an anonymous tip through Valley Crime Stoppers. Please reference the case number associated with the case when reporting information.

To submit a photo of a victim for use on this database, email detectives@countyofkings.com.

2010-2019

	Name: Armando Garza Case Number: 18K004239 Race: Hispanic Sex: Male DOB: 11/17/1984 City of Residency: Kettleman City, California Synopsis: On Tuesday, February 13, 2018, Kings County Sheriff's Office Deputies were dispatched to the 200 block of Maud Street, Kettleman City, County of Kings, for a shooting investigation. Upon arrival, Deputies and fire personnel found the victim, Armando Garza, deceased as the result of multiple gunshot wounds. If you have any information regarding this case, contact Detective Torres by phone at (559)852-4627 or by email at detectives@countyofkings.com.
	Name: Genaro Sandoval Alaniz Case Number: 16K019871 Race: Hispanic Sex: Male DOB: 03/29/1972 City of Residency: Kettleman City Synopsis: On July 27, 2016, Deputies were dispatched to a report of shots fired in the area of Ninth and Edwards Streets, Kettleman City, CA. Deputies located a vehicle in the 300 block of Edwards Street with a male subject deceased in the driver’s seat. If you have any information regarding this case, contact Detective Torres by phone at (559)852-4627 or by email at detectives@countyofkings.com.
	Name: Martin Nava Case Number: 16K009330 Race: Hispanic Sex: Male DOB: 04/10/1985 City of Residency: Avenal Synopsis: On April 5th, 2016, Kings County Sheriff Deputies were dispatched to the 11000 block of 2nd Place in Hanford regarding a shots fired investigation. After arriving on scene Martin Nava was found suffering from several fatal gunshot wounds. If you have any information regarding this case, contact Detective Janes by phone at (559)852-4603 or by email at detectives@countyofkings.com.
	Name: Jane Doe Case Number: 15K012006 Race: Unknown Sex: Female DOB: Unknown City of Residency: Unknown Synopsis: On May 13, 2015, the remains of a body were found, wrapped in a tarp, in the area of 6th Ave and Utica Ave by a birdwatcher. The remains were later determined to be of an unidentified female subject. If you have any information regarding this case, contact Detective Hakker by phone at (559)852-2807 or by email at detectives@countyofkings.com.
	Name: Michael De La Cruz Case Number: 1-10-000392/14K06668 Race: Hispanic Sex: Male DOB: 12/21/1982 City of Residency: Armona Synopsis: On February 19th, 2010, Kings County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to the area of 19th and Madison Avenue. Upon arrival the body of Michael De La Cruz was found in a nearby irrigation canal. De La Cruz had sustained fatal gunshot wounds and his death is suspected to be gang related. If you have any information regarding this case, contact Detective Janes by phone at (559)852-4603 or by email at detectives@countyofkings.com.

2000-2009

Name: Ezaki Ramirez
Case Number: 3-09-000712
Race: Hispanic
Sex: Male
DOB: 04/20/1991
City of Residency: Avenal
Synopsis: On October 14, 2009, at about 9:12 p.m., Deputies were called to the 300 block of West San Joaquin, Avenal, CA, regarding the victim of a shooting. Deputies located the victim, Ezaki Ramirez, laying in the grass of a nearby residence with multiple gun shot wounds. Ezaki was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

If you have any information regarding this case, contact Detective Haener by phone at (559)852-2818 or by email at detectives@countyofkings.com.

Name: Jose Calderon Santos
Also Known As: Chepe
Case Number: 108001927 / 14K016663
Race: Hispanic
Sex: Male
DOB: 01/03/1975
City of Residency: Los Angeles
Synopsis: On Tuesday, October 7th, 2008, Deputies were dispatched to 27513 Ward Drive, Kettleman, City, CA, regarding a suspect brandishing a gun. Deputies arrived and located a male subject, Jose Calderon Santos, with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

If you have any information regarding this case, contact Detective Hakker by phone at (559)852-2807 or by email at detectives@countyofkings.com.

1990-1999

Name: Areef Muhammed
Case Number: 1-96-000322 / 14K016667
Race: Middle Eastern
Sex: Male
DOB: 05/15/1979
City of Residency: Stratford
Synopsis: On 01/31/1996, Kings County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to the 20500 block of Main Street, Stratford California for a robbery. When they arrived, Deputies located a person who had been shot and killed during the robbery.

REWARD: $50,000.00

If you have any information regarding this case, contact Detective Trejo by phone at (559)852-4627 or by email at detectives@countyofkings.com.

Name: Juan Cruz
Case Number: 1-94-003102
Race: Hispanic
Sex: Male
DOB: 05/04/1947
City of Residency: Hanford
Synopsis: On 7/2/94, Deputies were dispatched to the area of Hwy 33 and Pyramid Hills Rd, Avenal, CA, regarding an unresponsive male subject. Deputies arrived and found the victim, Juan Cruz, deceased with a gun shot wound.

If you have any information regarding this case, contact Detective Vargas by phone at (559)852-2829 or by email at detectives@countyofkings.com.

Name: Estella Cortez
Also Known As: Ana Maria Cortez / Maria Cortez / Stella Maria Serrano
Case Number: 3-93-001010
Race: Hispanic
Sex: Female
DOB: 09/05/1963)
City of Residency: Avenal
Synopsis: On March 3, 1993, Deputies were dispatched to the 700 block of Corcoran St, Avenal, CA, for a missing person investigation. It was reported Estella Cortez was last seen on March 2, 1993, at approximately 10:00 a.m. leaving for Wasco with her boyfriend. Estella did not return from the trip to Wasco and her whereabouts are still unknown.

If you have any information regarding this case, contact Detective Vargas by phone at (559)852-2829 or by email at detectives@countyofkings.com.

1980-1989

Name: John Doe
Case Number: 81-00053
Race: Hispanic
Sex: Male
DOB: Unknown (17 – 21-Year-Old)
City of Residency: Unknown
Synopsis: Deputies were dispatched to the 23100 block of 5 ½ Ave regarding a dog who had found a possible human skull. Deputies arrived and saw the skull was human and had two bullet holes on the front of the skull. Deputies later located more human remains in the area near the 6600 block of Nevada Ave. The person has yet to be identified.

If you have any information regarding this case, contact Detective Haener by phone at (559)852-2818 or by email at detectives@countyofkings.com.

1970-1979

Name: Loretta W. Barnes
Case Number: 73-10080
Race: White
Sex: Female
DOB: 12/30/1930
City of Residency: Hanford
Synopsis: On October 22, 1973, Loretta W. Barnes was found in a shallow grave in the area of 6th Ave and Flint Ave. Loretta had been reported missing through the Hanford Police Department. Loretta’s death was determined to be a homicide.

If you have any information regarding this case, contact Detective Hakker by phone at (559)852-2807 or by email at detectives@countyofkings.com.