On January 4, 2002, Maria Pastora Reyes, a 21-year-old woman from Santa Ana, California, was found murdered in Chino Hills. She was discovered in a dirt field, having been brutally stabbed to death. Reyes had been last seen alive the previous night, between 10:30 and 11:30 p.m., when she left a location in Santa Ana. Witnesses in the area of the crime reported seeing a group of Hispanic males in a brown 1990s Chevy van near the field around the time of the murder, raising suspicions that they
may have been involved in the crime.
Despite the initial leads and witness accounts, the investigation into Reyes' murder stalled, and her case remains unsolved to this day. Law enforcement has continued to seek new information and encourage the public to come forward, offering the opportunity for anonymous tips. Reyes’ case is part of a number of cold cases being investigated by the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. Authorities are still hoping for a breakthrough that could provide justice for Maria and closure for her family.
