Homicide Cold Case Detectives arrest a suspect in a 2001 Murder Investigation
DATE/TIME: September 22, 2001/ 1:54 a.m. COLD CASE UPDATE: March 11,2020
INCDENT: Murder Investigation
LOCATION: 15000 block of Monte Vista Avenue, Chino Hills
VICTIM: Sabrina Chagoy, 40 years of age at the time of her death
SUSPECT: Antonio Loera Contreras, age 50 a resident of Jurupa Valley
SUMMARY:
On Saturday, September 22, 2001, at approximately 1:54 a.m., Chino Hills Deputies responded to a report of a female down on the ground in the 15000 block of Monte Vista Avenue, Chino Hills. Deputies located a partially disrobed female, later identified as Sabrina Chagoy, deceased on the roadway.
Homicide detectives responded to the location and assumed the investigation. Evidence was collected at the scene, and detectives learned that the victim was last seen entering a vehicle occupied by a Hispanic male adult.
The Coroner Division conducted an autopsy, and the attending pathologist determined the victim was pregnant with a 31-week-old fetus (girl) at the time of her death. Sabrina Chagoy’s death was ruled a homicide. The cause of death for the fetus was fetal demise due to maternal death.
Following an extensive investigation, detectives were unable to identify the suspect responsible for the death of Sabrina Chagoy, and the case went cold.
In 2017, the Specialized Investigations Division – Homicide Detail, Cold Case Team reopened the investigation. Sheriff’s DNA laboratory personnel processed evidence located at the scene and recovered from the victim. An unknown male profile was identified and uploaded into CODIS. The suspect’s DNA profile remained unidentified.
In 2019, the Sheriff’s Cold Case Team partnered with agents from the FBI Forensic Genetic Genealogy Team. Investigators used Investigative Genetic Genealogy to identify a family member related to the unknown suspect DNA profile. Antonio Loera Contreras was identified as a person of interest. Through investigation, detectives learned that Contreras had ties to the Inland Empire and fit the suspect profile previously developed by investigators. Cold Case Detectives obtained a reference buccal swab from Contreras, and it was submitted for DNA comparison.
On March 3, 2020, the Cold Case Team was notified that Contreras’ DNA matched the DNA recovered from the victim and evidence located at the crime scene.
On Monday, March 9, 2020, detectives obtained a Ramey arrest warrant for Contreras. Contreras was located and transported to Sheriff’s headquarters to be interviewed by homicide detectives. Following a lengthy interview, Antonio Contreras was arrested, transported and booked into the Central Detention Center for PC187(a) Murder where he is being held on $1,000,000.00 bail.
On Wednesday, March 11, 2020, the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s office filed PC187(a) Murder charges against Contreras. He remains in custody at the West Valley Detention Center and is scheduled to appear in Rancho Cucamonga Court on March 11th at 1:00 p.m.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact Detective Arturo Alvarado, Specialized Investigations Division – Homicide Detail at (909) 387-3589. Callers can remain anonymous and contact We-Tip at 800-78-CRIME (27463) or www.wetip.com.
Refer: Detective Arturo Alvarado or Sergeant Mike Walker
Station: Specialized Investigations Division – Homicide Detail
Phone No.: (909) 387-3589
Case No.: DR#220103631 H#2001-073
JOHN McMAHON, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department
Address/Location
SBSD - Headquarters
655 E 3rd St
San Bernardino, CA 92408
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 909-387-3700