Mother confesses to drowning newborn daughter in cold case arrest
- The newborn girl was found dead in a dumpster in Union City, California, on May 18, 2009.
- Angela Onduto was arrested in Colorado and charged with the murder of her daughter after advanced DNA analysis linked her to the case.
- Union City Police stress their ongoing commitment to solving cold cases, emphasizing the importance of justice and community remembrance.
In Colorado, more than 16 years passed since a newborn girl was discovered deceased in a dumpster at the Parkside Apartments on May 18, 2009. The victim, later named Matea Esperanza, was found by a man searching for recyclables. During the initial investigation, the case went cold until advances in DNA technology allowed authorities to identify Angela Onduto of Denver, Colorado, as a suspect. As the investigation progressed, Union City detectives confirmed Onduto's involvement, prompting her arrest around the time when Esperanza would have turned 16 years old. Following this, the Alameda County District Attorney's Office filed murder charges against her. The circumstances surrounding the infant's unfortunate death began with Angela Onduto admitting to drowning Matea inside her apartment shortly after delivering her. The confession followed a long period of investigation and heightened focus on cold cases by law enforcement. Onduto expressed no remorse for her actions and explained that she did not suffer from any mental health or substance abuse issues during that time. The persistence of detectives in Union City reflects a commitment to seek justice, especially in such tragic circumstances. In remembrance of Matea Esperanza, authorities have taken measures to honor her memory over the years. In 2017, a permanent marker was placed at her grave in the Chapel of the Chimes in Hayward, and every May, the police department commemorates her life with a memorial ceremony. This long-standing effort aims to keep the memory of victims like Matea alive within the community. As the case continues to unfold, Union City detectives are working on extraditing Angela Onduto back to California to face the charges. After years of being considered a cold case, the reopening of this investigation serves as a reminder of the impact of technological advancements in criminal investigations. The focus now shifts toward bringing closure to a community that has been haunted by its tragic past.