by Mohave County, AZ and Oxnard, CA – After more than three decades, a haunting mystery dating back to 1989 has finally been unraveled. Two infant girls found abandoned in a California park restroom have been identified as the daughters of a woman whose body was discovered stabbed in the Arizona desert just days before. The discovery brings closure to a chilling cold case that baffled law enforcement for years.
Decades-Old Tragedy: The Discovery of Marina Ramos
On December 12, 1989, Marina Ramos, a woman from Bakersfield, California, was found naked and with multiple stab wounds in Mohave County, Arizona, approximately 50 miles south of Las Vegas. Despite thorough investigations at the time, Ramos’ identity remained a mystery for decades due to no DNA matches in existing databases.
It wasn’t until February 2022 that authorities made a breakthrough; when the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit resubmitted fingerprints to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. The FBI linked the prints to “Maria Ortiz,” an alias used by Ramos following a 1989 shoplifting arrest in Bakersfield.
This crucial identification led to confirmation by her family that Marina had disappeared the same year along with her two infant daughters, Elizabeth, then 14 months old, and Jasmin, just two months old.
Uncovering the Fate of the Abandoned Infants
For over two years following the identification of Ramos, investigators pursued leads relentlessly to discover the whereabouts of her missing daughters. The sheriff’s office engaged the public through press releases, social media outreach, and review of broadcast reports, coupled with DNA testing of Ramos’ extended family.
In August 2023, the efforts paid off when the two girls were located through a DNA match. They were revealed to have been abandoned in a park women’s restroom in Oxnard, California, in December 1989, just two days after their mother was found murdered in Arizona.
According to police reports, the girls were discovered lying on the wet restroom floor, crying, and unattended by any adults. A passerby had heard their cries and found them vulnerable and alone.
- The girls were taken into foster care where they remained for a significant period.
- Eventually, they were adopted by a family in Ventura County and raised together.
Continuing the Search for Justice
While the mystery of the infants’ identity has been solved, authorities emphasize that the homicide case of Marina Ramos remains open.
“While we are excited to announce that one part of this 36-year-old mystery has been solved, the search for the suspects involved in the homicide of Marina Ramos continues,” stated Mohave County sheriff’s officials.
A witness reported seeing a Hispanic woman carrying the younger child wrapped in a yellow blanket, and two Hispanic men—one carrying the older child—traveling together in a black pickup truck near the park around the time the children were abandoned.
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Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office to assist in bringing justice.
For a deeper dive into this remarkable cold case resolution, you can visit the original report by Fox News Digital here.
The Impact and Reflection on a Long-Standing Cold Case
This case underscores the power of modern forensic technology, including DNA analysis and fingerprint databases, in solving crimes that have remained unsolved for decades. It also highlights the resilience of investigators who tirelessly work to reunite families and uncover the truth behind tragic events.
- The use of aliases complicated the investigation initially.
- Community reports and witness testimonies remain vital sources of new information.
- Cooperation between various law enforcement agencies is crucial in cold case breakthroughs.
What do you think about this decades-old mystery finally being solved? Have you ever followed or been affected by a cold case in your community? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
