On January 27, 1981, the body of a young woman was found in a citrus orchard near Piru. The victim had been shot multiple times, and her death was ruled a homicide.
At the time, investigators believed the victim was between 20 and 25 years old, of Hispanic descent, about 195 pounds, with brown eyes and brown hair. The victim was found wearing a plaid shirt, turquoise tank top, a skirt, and flip-flop style sandals.
Despite the work of detectives, the case went cold, but in 2023, the Cold Case Unit reopened the investigation using advanced DNA analysis. The DNA results suggested the victim’s family likely originated from Michoacán, Mexico.
Working with Redgrave Research Forensic Services, investigators identified potential family members. This past Summer, investigators obtained critical new information and were able to confirm the identity of the victim for the first time.
The victim has been identified as Maria Belmontes Blancas, who came to California from Mexico in 1980. After decades of uncertainty, Maria’s family - living in both the United States and Mexico finally received the answers they had long hoped for.
Maria was the victim of a violent crime, and her killer has never been identified. This case remains open.
If you have any information about Maria’s life in California, or about her murder, please contact the Ventura County Sheriff’s Cold Case Unit at 805-383-8739.
Together, we can bring justice for Maria Belmontes Blancas.
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