After years on the shelf, a cold case involving the tragic death of a newborn girl, found in a dumpster of Parkside Apartments over a decade ago, is finally seeing the wheels of justice grind forward. The Union City Police Department announced the arrest of 46-year-old Angela Onduto in connection with the 2009 case. Using advanced DNA analysis techniques, they were able not only to identify but also apprehend a suspect after 16 years.
Discovered searching for recyclables by a man, the newborn, whom the UCPD officers christened Matea Esperanza, served as a poignant reminder of innocence lost and a community's long search for answers. Further forensic work and review by the Alameda County District Attorney led to the filing of murder charges against Onduto, with detectives from Union City flying out to Denver to collaborate on the arrest. As she was taken into custody, tensions that had lingered for years seemed to edge towards resolution.
The investigative team's persistence paid off as they matched a suspect lead through DNA traces left at the scene over a decade before. Onduto, who had been a person of interest in the initial investigation phases, was finally confirmed as the perpetrator using a DNA comparison. According to the UCPD's statement, the detectives remain determined to see this case end, working now to extradite Onduto to Alameda County for prosecution.
While the wheels of justice are finally in motion for Matea, the UCPD urges those with additional information to step forward. Information can be shared with Cold Case Detective Ayala at (510) 675-5259, or anonymously at (510) 675-5207.
