Written By: Hannah Nasluchacz, Staff Writer
CRIME: Riverside citizens suffer from crimes going unsolved.
Information regarding all the following cases have come from Riverside authorities, including the police department. No one has been charged with crimes that are about to be discussed. When a crime is committed, it is important to the friends and families of the victim to get answers and that the culprit is held responsible. Please, if you see a person commit a crime, report it so it does not go unsolved.
Cheri Jo Bates
In the fall of 1966, 18 year old Cheri Jo Bates was found in the alleyway of the Terracina near the RCC, Riverside Community College, Campus. An hour before at 5:45 AM her father, Joseph Bates, reported her as a missing person. The night before her murder, she was on her way to the RCC Library; she was a freshman there.
Bates was born in Omaha Nebraska to Irene Karolewicz and Joseph C Bates. She moved to Riverside when she was young and attended Romana High School where she graduated in 1966. She liked playing piano and was popular at school. She got herself a job and saved up enough money to buy a green 1960 Volkswagen Beetle.
The same car was found with its middle distributor coil ripped out on the scene with foreign handprints on the window. This was evidence that the car was tampered with showing that she could not drive away. There were size 8-10 boot prints in the alleyway, where detectives also found a broken Timex watch that belonged to the killer. All of this is evidence that could be collected to help find the murder.
When the autopsy was conducted, Dr. Rene Modglin discovered her time of death was between 9PM and 12AM. She had suffered 42 stab wounds to her body.
Bates even to her last second put on a fierce fight for her life. At 5 ‘2’’ and 110 pounds, the killer’s hair was found in her fist and skin under her fingernails.
Detectives were never able to convict a killer but they had their suspects.
A man by the allies “Bob Barnett” who was ruled out by DNA, Ross Sullivan who had an alibi and whose handprints were overlooked by a narrow minded detect clinking to the theory that “Barnett” was the murderer, and at one point the Zodiac Killer, who was later cleared up as a suspect when the man stepped forward admitting to be joking. Tom Viogt, a Zodiac connoisseur, commented that the murder of Bates and the murders by the Zodiac were done by “two different people.”
Both Bates’ parents passed away not knowing who killed their little girl. Someday maybe her living family member might know the truth. With technology advancing everyday it’s not hopeless to think that there might be a break in her case.
Baby Jane Doe
In October 1987, an unidentified female baby was found in a dumpster between Collett Avenue and Schuyler Avenue. Forensics ruled the death as a homicide. Ever since the baby had been found, the Forensic Unit and Homicide Cold Case Detectives say they “have been working closely with the Riverside County sheriff-Coroner’s Office” as well as all the other teams in Riverside and Los Angeles are working to identify the people responsible along with finding the identity if the baby.
Dog Thrown over Cell Tower Fence
Footage was released of a man throwing presumably his dog over a barbed wire fence to the cell tower on December 15, 2022. In the video a man is seen throwing Ken, the Pitbull mix dog, over a razor wired fence belonging to a cell tower. Riverside County Department of Animal Services, through a press release by Service Commander Josh Sisler, said “we’re now moving forward with seeking the arrest warrant because this person needs to be held accountable for such a horrible act of willful abandonment.”
To figure out Ken’s identity vets scanned his microchip and discovered the name of the former owner, Robert Ruiz Jr., as well as his address. Authorities have made many attempts to find him at his address but he no longer lives there.
When workers discovered the dog was severely dehydrated, they gave him three bottles of water. Ken is in the care of a shelter in Jurupa Valley and was examined and treated by a vet.
Gloria Ramirez
On the morning of February 19 1994, Gloria Ramirez had trouble breathing at home so an ambulance was called to her house. She was giving oxygen and was transported to the hospital by paramedics. 45 minutes after she arrived at Riverside General Hospital, staff was attempting to revive her but their attempts proved unsuccessful. She passed away from cervical cancer at the age of 31.
In total 27 members of the staff had helped her. 23 of those people started to become sick and faint from the gasses radiating from her body. There was a stench of ammonia from a syringe used and colored particles floating in the blood from it.
While another team was suiting up in biohazard equipment to help continue performing CPR on Ramirez, an order was given by the physician for everyone including staff to evacuate the emergency room. They all had to go through a biohazard cleaning.
The biohazard team covered Ramirez’s body in an aluminum coffin and was separated.
Dangerous investigation followed by the corner office but to their surprise nothing was different about her body. The only thing that was found in her body was the medication she took for her cancer. Nothing toxic was found. The substances that made the hospital staff sick when they came in contact with her were never discovered.
Linda Chavez
On the afternoon of September 1, 1999 in the groves at Tyler and Victory, an employee was found burnt. She was later identified as Linda Chavez. She was 23 years old and was from Compton California. The only information known about her case is that she went missing on August 27, 1999. An investigation was performed resulting in no new information.
Conclusion
The people and animals from this list have been a victim of terrible crimes gone unsolved. While scary in details, the stories above must not be forgotten: they are not only integral parts of Riverside history, they are on-going investigations of upmost importance to their families and loved ones, both current and deceased. This list is not only a way to inform Riversiders of their fellow residents, but to commemorate the stories and lives of those who lost them far too soon yet at the same time failed to properly conclude. The families of the people affected of the victims wanted to get to solve these crimes and once and for all and have peace, and it is important to continue investigations, as even if their family members now join them past life, the full conclusion of their stories and the administration of justice shall always remain wanted in their hearts.
Gloria Rameriz
Linda Chavez
Ken, the pitbull mix.
Cheri Jo Bates
Cheri Jo Bates was a popular high school student participating in multiple extracurricular activities and her high school cheer team.