The night before her murder, she went out with friends and family to watch her brother play in a band. Afterwards, she went to Huntington's night club in Oxnard while her sister went to their shared apartment in Camarillo. Also at the apartment that night was Rachel's babysitter, who was watching her two young daughters.
After returning home from the nightclub, they discussed the possibility of the babysitter spending the night, but ultimately decided against. At this point, Rachel lets her sister know that she is going to take the babysitter home.
After dropping off the babysitter, she arrives back and parks her car in the carport across the street from her apartment, on Mobil Avenue in Camarillo.
She never made it home. Instead, she was attacked, raped and strangled, leaving her naked body to be discovered hours later by a newspaper deliveryman.
On December 12, 1981, 11 months after Rachel's murder, another young woman, Lisa Gondek, was also strangled. Her body was left in the bathtub of her apartment, posed in an erotic manner. The apartment was then set on fire.
It would be almost 30 years later before these two cases were linked together by DNA, revealing that both Lisa and Rachel were killed by the same person. Both cases remain unsolved, however, because the DNA does not match any known offender in the system. Back in 1981, DNA samples were not required. DNA has since eliminated suspects from the initial investigation.
Aside from DNA, both women had attended Huntington's night club in Oxnard hours before they were killed.
Rachel is survived by her siblings and her two daughters who now have children of their own. Her parents have since passed away.
There is currently a $10,000 reward for any information leading to her murderer.
UPDATE:
The suspect was caught and arrested on February 8, 2023.Tony Garcia, 68, of Oxnard, was arrested for the murder of Lisa Gondek and Rachel Zendejas.
He was arrested after a joint investigation by Oxnard Police Department, the Ventura County Sheriff's office and the DA's investigations bureau. They will hold a Press Conference on Thursday, February 9, 2023.
>Murder Arrest in Pair of 1981 Killings
Has to be an employee of Huntington's. Huntington's link can't be a coincidence. Likely a bouncer. Bouncers check ID can get the address from drivers license so no need to follow Victim if he already knows her address
ReplyDeleteRumor has it the perp lived in military housing in Camarillo as well.and yes he was the bouncer!
ReplyDeleteWhere was the military housing located in Camarillo back then?
DeleteDid anyone have a description of the bouncer? Was he a guy with blonde hair about 30 and had big arm muscles?
ReplyDeleteI strongly believe it was someone from that club. I cant find much information about this club. do ya'll know where I can find it?
ReplyDeleteWhat about Deangelo? Maybe it was he?
ReplyDeleteWas Tony associated with the club in the 80’s?
ReplyDeleteI don't know if he worked at Huntington's. He was a sifu at Flores brothers karate
ReplyDeleteGod i love DNA hits
ReplyDelete