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Espeleta,Jeanette G.missing July 17,1998; California
Topic Started: Sep 5 2006, 11:33 AM (281 Views)
oldies4mari2004
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http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/e/espeleta_jeanette.html
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oldies4mari2004
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Jeanette Gomez Espeleta


Above: Espeleta, circa 1998


Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance

Missing Since: July 17, 1998 from Fullerton, California
Classification: Endangered Missing
Date Of Birth: November 12, 1977
Age: 20 years old
Height and Weight: 5'4, 130 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: Hispanic female. Brown hair, brown eyes. Espeleta has scars above her right eye and on her forehead. She has had her breasts augmented with implants, which feature unique serial numbers. Her name may be spelled "Janette."
Medical Conditions: Espeleta was eight months pregnant at the time of her July 1998 disappearance. Her due date was sometime during August 1998.


Details of Disappearance

Espeleta was last seen leaving work at the Bank Of America branch in Fullerton, California on July 17, 1998. (Some agencies may state that the branch was located in Santa Ana, California). She apparently told her co-workers that she planned to head directly home afterwards. Some media reports state that Espeleta disappeared after visiting a fitness club in Anaheim, California before returning to her family's residence in the Moreno Valley. Espeleta never arrived home as scheduled and has not been heard from again.
Authorities believe that Espeleta was abducted and died of multiple gunshot wounds on the day of her disappearance. Investigators believe that her vehicle was burned and abandoned by her murderers somewhere in the Baja, California canyons. Authorities believe that Espeleta's remains were disposed of about a mile off the Long Beach, California shoreline, wrapped in a tarp and chains, weighted down, and dumped in the ocean.

Espeleta's family members told investigators that it was very uncharacteristic of her to leave without warning and not contact anyone. She had all phone calls transferred to her pager if she was not at her residence. Espeleta was preparing to move back into her family's residence in July 1998. She was excited about giving birth to her child, who was determined to be a girl through a routine ultrasound. Espeleta planned to name the baby Alyssa Kaitana. Her relatives said she was looking forward to becoming a single mother. Espeleta planned a baby shower and requested that her mother prepare Philipine pancit noodles for the event.

Authorities suspected that Richard Tovar, an Anaheim, California resident, Espeleta's former boyfriend and reported father of her unborn child, was involved in her disappearance. Espeleta's sister said that she had filed paternity suit papers against Tovar prior to her disapperance. He reportedly refused to acknowledge the unborn child was his daughter. Authorities believed that Tovar was angered as a result of the impending suit and intended to murder his former girlfriend and her fetus to avoid having to make child support payments. Espeleta told her loved ones that Tovar would not be pleased with the support suit. She wrote a letter to him in early July 1998 and requested that he leave her and her baby alone, calling him an "irresponsible coward."

Tovar was arrested and charged with plotting and executing Espeleta's presumed abduction and homicide on July 28, 1998, 11 days after she disappeared. His friend, Henry Joseph Rodriguez, was charged as his accomplice. Tovar attempted to assist investigators locate Espeleta's remains in the Pacific Ocean after his arrest. Searches extended from the waters near Long Beach to Mexico, but no evidence was located. Espeleta's body has never been recovered.

A mistrial was declared in Tovar's case in August 2000, more than two years after Espeleta disappeared. A key prosecution witness refused to testify during the trial. Tovar was eventually convicted of Espeleta's homicide in September 2000. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in November 2000. Rodriguez was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison.



Investigating Agency
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Fullerton Police Department
714-738-6790



Source Information
California Attorney General's Office
The Orange County Register
The Riverside Press-Enterprise
The Long Beach Press-Telegram
The Contra Costa Times



Updated 1 time since October 12, 2004.

Last updated November 19, 2005; alternate name spelling added.

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oldies4mari2004
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monkalup
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The Old Heifer! An oxymoron, of course.
[ *  *  * ]
Fullerton Police Department
Detective Sgt. Sean Fares
714-738-6790
Email
sfares@fullertonpd.org
Agency Case Number: 01-2417
Lauran

"If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente.


In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only.
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monkalup
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The Old Heifer! An oxymoron, of course.
[ *  *  * ]
MISSING PERSON
Jeanette Gomez Espeleta



* Report Type: Suspicious Circumstances
* Sex: Female
* Race: Hispanic
* Hair: Brown
* Eye Color: Brown
* Height: 5 ft. 04 in.
* Weight: 130 lbs.
* Date of Birth: 11/12/1977
* Last Seen: 7/17/1998
* Scars/Marks/Tattoos: Pregnant- Eight (8) months, Scar over right eye, Scar on forehead, Breast Implants with serial numbers.
* Dental X-rays Available: No

Jeanette was last seen July 17, 1998 in Fullerton, CA.

CONTACT
Agency: Fullerton Police Department
Phone Number: (714) 738-6790
Case Number: 01-2417
http://dojapp.doj.ca.gov/missing/detail.as...N=3810105200321
Lauran

"If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente.


In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only.
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