Yvette Woodruff, a 15-year-old girl from Ontario, California, tragically lost her life on September 2, 1990. Her death was the result of a brutal crime that shocked the community and remained unsolved for many years. On that fateful night, Yvette was abducted along with two other women by Alfredo Prieto and two accomplices. The group was taken at gunpoint, driven around the city, and eventually brought to a vacant lot. There, all three women were subjected to horrific sexual assaults.
While the other two women survived the ordeal, Yvette was fatally shot by Prieto.
The investigation into Yvette's murder was complex and spanned several years. Initially, there were no leads, and the case went cold. However, advancements in DNA technology eventually provided a breakthrough. In 2010, Riverside County sheriff’s detectives identified Alfredo Prieto as the suspect in Yvette's murder through DNA testing. Prieto, a known gang member from Pomona, was already linked to multiple other killings in California and Virginia. His DNA was found at the crime scene, conclusively tying him to the murder of Yvette Woodruff.
Prieto was already on death row in California for the rape and murder of another young girl when he was linked to Yvette's case. In 1992, he was sentenced to death for the September 2, 1990, rape and murder of Yvette Woodruff. Despite his conviction, the case continued to go through the appellate process for many years. Prieto was also convicted of other murders, including the 1988 killings of Rachael Raver and Warren Fulton III in Virginia, which were also linked to him through DNA evidence.
The legal proceedings surrounding Prieto were extensive. He faced multiple trials and appeals, both in California and Virginia. In 2015, after a lengthy legal battle, Alfredo Prieto was executed in Virginia. His execution brought some measure of closure to the families of his many victims, including Yvette Woodruff. The case of Yvette Woodruff remains a poignant reminder of the impact of violent crime and the importance of advancements in forensic science in solving cold cases.
