Jeanette Gomez Espeleta, aged 20, was last seen on July 17, 1998, after leaving her job at a Bank of America branch in Fullerton, California. Jeanette, who was eight months pregnant at the time, was preparing to move back in with her family in Moreno Valley and was excited about becoming a single mother. However, after she left work that day, she disappeared without a trace. Her friends and family grew concerned as it was highly unusual for her to not stay in contact with loved ones.
Authorities later suspected that Jeanette had been abducted and murdered shortly after her disappearance. Her former boyfriend, Richard Tovar, who was believed to be the father of her unborn child, was arrested and charged with her murder. Investigators believed that Tovar, along with two accomplices, killed Jeanette to avoid child support responsibilities. Her body was believed to have been dumped in the ocean near Long Beach after being wrapped in chains or rope. Despite extensive searches, her remains have never been recovered, and her car was reportedly found burned near Rosarito Beach in Mexico.
The case took several legal turns, with one of Tovar's accomplices, Henry Rodriguez, initially convicted but later receiving retrials due to legal complications. Rodriguez eventually pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter in 2020 after serving approximately 20 years in prison. Though Jeanette's body was never found, the case is considered resolved due to the convictions related to her death.
Last Seen: Jul 17, 1998
