Human remains were discovered Tuesday at a property in a Southcrest neighborhood, prompting a multi-agency investigation.
A search warrant was served Tuesday at a home on Newton Avenue, near National Avenue and 35th Street, after the California Highway Patrol became privy to information that led investigators to believe there were remains on the property, San Diego Police Department Lt. Travis Easter said.
The remains were recovered but will need to be identified by the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office, SDPD said. The ME will also determine the cause of death.
Along with CHP, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, San Diego police’s Cold Case division and the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office were involved in the investigation.
SkyRanger 7 was above the home’s backyard on Tuesday afternoon, where a heavy law enforcement presence remained. At least five blue canopies were set up on the side of the home behind SDPD tarps, and investigators wearing protective gear were seen gathering evidence, with some entering what appears to be a side door or crawl space of the home.
The family who lives at the home, sisters Judith Santos Gonzalez and Selena Estrada Gonzalez, spoke to NBC 7’s Omari Fleming on Tuesday, detailing that authorities had unexpectedly arrived at their door with a search warrant a couple days earlier.
“Two people come up to our door on a Sunday evening when we’re just all relaxing, watching movies as a family. And they just come to our door to tell us that we have to leave. A search warrant was approved by a judge, and you have to leave because the search warrant was going to start Tuesday — today — morning,” Judith said.
Authorities explained to the family that the search warrant did not involve them, but rather the previous residents. The sisters said they were given a stipend to spend on a hotel so they could vacate the property.
New evidence in a cold case from 2020 led authorities to search their house, the family said they were told by authorities.
The sisters described the search as being conducted through their neighbor’s entrance and under Judith’s room.
“They already told us whatever they’re looking for is underneath the house,” Judith added.
The sisters had just moved into the home last year. Here and there, sheriff’s deputies would show up at the house, asking if so-and-so lived at the home, Selena described.
FBI San Diego posted a statement to their social media pages on Tuesday. The statement is below:
FBI San Diego assisted today, at the request of the California Highway Patrol, on a cold case homicide. The FBI worked closely with our law enforcement partners at the CHP and SDPD to execute a search warrant at 3443 Newton Avenue in San Diego in the recovery of human remains. Working through out Evidence Response Team, the FBI provided expertise through evidence collection and processing, including the use of forensic canines. As human remains were located on the property, SDPD has jurisdiction for any further investigative work. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the San Diego Police Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
This is a developing story. Details may change as information is released.