Oceanside Police Cold Case Investigators Solve Homicide Case From 1994

OCEANSIDE, CA — The Oceanside Police Department’s Cold Case investigators used current technology to re-exam forensic evidence to help solve the 1994 murder of Dolores Rabaya.

On January 1, 1994, at around 7:00 pm, the Oceanside Police Department received a 9-1-1 call requesting assistance at the 300 block of Edgehill Lane in Oceanside. When officers arrived they discovered Oceanside resident Dolores Rabaya deceased in her bed, covered in blood. Rabaya was found with twenty-seven stab wounds, including six wounds to her chest, five to her head and defensive wounds showing that Dolores had attempted to fight off her attacker.

At the time of the murder, an extensive investigation was conducted by Oceanside homicide detectives and a suspect was identified, but charges could not be filed due to a lack of physical evidence.

In 2015, the District Attorney’s Office re-opened the case. Oceanside Police Department’s Cold Case investigators worked diligently. Forensic evidence left at the crime scene was resubmitted for examination, using current technology. In 2016, an arrest warrant was issued for suspect Jesse Velazquez Ayala.

On February 9, 2022, in the early morning hours, Oceanside Police Department officers arrested Jesus Ayala at the San Diego Airport. Ayala was booked on suspicion of murder in the 1994 stabbing death of Dolores Rabaya of Oceanside.

For additional information, please contact Oceanside Police Department Public Information Officer Jennifer Atenza at (760) 277-5237 or email jatenza@oceansideca.org.

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