After 45 long years, the chilling murder of 17-year-old Esther Gonzalez, who tragically lost her life back in February 1979, has taken a significant turn. Authorities have finally linked her suspected killer, using advanced forensic technology, to the cold case. The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office made the announcement recently, bringing new hope and possibly some clarity to the Gonzalez family.
On February 9, 1979, Esther was on her way from her parents' house in Beaumont to visit her sister in Banning. She never arrived. The following day, her lifeless body was found by Lewis Randolph "Randy" Williamson, who called the police after discovering her remains tucked away in packed snow off Highway 243. Initially, he was considered just another tragic witness to the aftermath of this heartbreaking event.
Williamson's behavior during the police inquiry, described by the Riverside County Sheriff's deputies as "argumentative," led investigators to suspect him eventually. Yet, after he willingly submitted to and passed a polygraph test just days later, he was cleared from any wrongdoing at the time—a decision made with the limited technology available back then.
Sadly, Esther's case fell cold for decades as investigators struggled to find leads. It wasn't until the Riverside County Regional Cold Case Homicide Team began reexamining the evidence, particularly semen recovered from Esther's body, and sending various pieces to Othram, Inc., a private DNA laboratory, for genealogical research, did they find new hope.
This new wave of effort was fueled by advancements not just in DNA collection but also forensic genealogy, the science of constructing family trees based on genetic sequences, which assists law enforcement agencies worldwide.
According to the District Attorney's news release, the cold case team sent samples to Othram for analysis. Despite Williamson having passed the lie detector test over four decades prior, he was never cleared via DNA testing, as such technology had not yet been developed.
Also remarkable is the fact Williamson had died back in 2014. Nevertheless, his blood sample was taken during his autopsy, allowing investigators to compare it to the evidence collected from Gonzalez's remains. The Department of Justice later confirmed the match: Williamson's DNA corresponded directly with the DNA found on Esther.
This development shifted Williamson from merely being cleared of any suspicion to being named as the primary suspect after all these years. The announcement has raised various questions and concerns, both about justice and the reliability of polygraphs. Traditional polygraph tests measure physiological responses, which some experts argue are highly susceptible to variability and not entirely reliable indicators of truthfulness.
Since the announcement, the Riverside County authorities are actively seeking anyone with information related to Williamson or Esther's case, pressing for assistance from the public to possibly identify other potential victims.
The Gonzalez family's long dance with grief is far from over, but this news has offered them some measure of closure. After nearly half a century, they finally have answers. Esther’s older brother, Eddie Gonzalez, expressed gratitude to law enforcement on social media, stating, "The Gonzalez family would like to thank the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department for a job well done. After 40 years, the Gonzalez family has closure." It is heart-wrenching yet heartening to think of the long-awaited justice for Esther.
Meanwhile, experts like Jason Corey, the master investigator for the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, acknowledge the extensive emotional toll on the family over the years. "That whole family has just been devastated over the years. This is something I don’t think ever got easier for them as time went on," he said, reflecting on the long road they have traversed.
With enhanced forensic techniques paving the way for older cold cases to find resolution, this case is one of many where the advancement of technology has played a key role. There is hope, as the increasing use of DNA evidence could lead to more breakthroughs, not only for this family but for countless others who have endured similar heartache.
Authorities continue to encourage anyone who knew Williamson or has information about Esther’s case to come forward, as the investigation pushes on to unearth more about Williamson’s past. What happened to Esther Gonzalez is far from forgotten; thanks to relentless investigative efforts and modern forensic techniques, her story may inspire strength and resolve for other cold cases waiting for the light of justice.
