Arrest Made In 25-Year-Old IE Cold Case Of Fatally Shot, Sexually Assaulted Woman

HESPERIA, CA — An arrested has been made in connection with a 25-year-old unsolved murder of a 37-year-old Inland Empire woman.

Raymond Silva Gonzales, 51, of Hesperia was arrested on Thursday by a SWAT team. On Friday, he was in custody without bail at the High Desert Detention Center on suspicion of murder, the San Bernardino Sheriff's Department said in a statement on Friday.

On Saturday, April 14, 2001, Suzanne Sites-Fenton was reported missing by her husband after she didn't come home from a night shift at Mervyn's, a retail store in Victorville.

Investigators later learned that Sites-Fenton was taking a break when she walked into the store parking lot and never returned to work or home.

The next day, her car was found abandoned with evidence of a physical altercation found inside. But Sites-Fenton was no where to be found. On Monday, April 16, 2001, her body was found in a remote area near Mariposa Road and Ranchero Street in Hesperia, the sheriff's department said, adding that she had been shot.

Homicide detectives who assumed the investigation determined that Sites-Fenton was kidnapped and sexually assaulted before she died.

Since a suspect wasn't identified, the case went cold, the department said.

Last year, the Cold Case Homicide Team picked up the investigation and identified Gonzales as a suspect. A warrant for his arrest was granted on Jan. 15, when he was arrested.

Anyone with information on this case is urged to contact the Homicide Detail at 909-890-4904. Callers wishing to remain anonymous should contact We-Tip at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or go to wetip.com.