A suspect has been recognized within the 1992 chilly case slaying of an Alameda, Calif., girl, in line with the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Workplace.

Gregory Marc Riviera, 50, who died earlier this yr, was recognized utilizing fingerprints because the suspect within the killing of 25-year-old Juliette Rivera, the sheriff’s division stated in a information launch.

Riviera evaded arrest for 30 years in reference to the killing by assuming his brother’s identification, authorities stated.

The case started when the sheriff’s division launched a lacking individual investigation for Rivera on July 7, 1992, authorities stated. Investigators contacted Riviera, an acquaintance of Rivera’s.

Police stated they started to suspect Riviera was concerned within the girl’s disappearance resulting from inconsistencies in his statements to detectives.

A lady’s physique was discovered July 17, 1992, by a farmworker in a rural space of unincorporated San Mateo County, in line with authorities. The physique, which was badly decomposed, was later recognized as Rivera. An post-mortem confirmed that she suffered from blunt power trauma to her left rear cranium from a flat object.

A warrant was issued for Riviera, charging him with the slaying, however he had deserted his condo on July 29, 1992, and went lacking for 30 years, police stated.

On Might 12, 2022, the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Workplace acquired a name from the Merced County Coroner’s Workplace, saying that an unsheltered man recognized as Jon Paul had handed away earlier this yr, in line with officers. The coroner discovered that the person’s fingerprints matched Gregory Riviera’s.

The coroner’s workplace discovered a warrant for Riviera’s arrest and labored with sheriff’s detectives to substantiate his identification, in line with police. In the course of the investigation, detectives found that Riviera had a brother named Jon Paul, who was nonetheless alive however coping with medical points, Jon Paul’s daughter instructed the coroner.

Jon Paul Riviera’s daughter additionally instructed police that Gregory Marc Riviera and her father used one another’s identification for 30 years to evade authorities.

“The closure of this 30-year-old chilly case murder couldn’t have been potential with out the help of the Alameda Police Division, the Merced County Sheriff’s Workplace and Coroner Bureau, and the San Mateo County district legal professional’s workplace,” the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Workplace stated in a press release. “Thanks all on your collaboration and great work.”