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Cold Case Project of Monterey County
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The Cold Case Project of Monterey County aims to assist law enforcement agencies in their ongoing efforts to solve violent crimes, specifically unsolved homicides, unsolved sexual assaults, long-term missing persons cases, and the identification of unidentified human remains.
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Cold Cases are not closed cases. They are waiting cases. And together, we can bring resolution and justice to victims, their families and communities.
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McGives 2025!! Thank you, Supporters!!
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Our first Monterey County Gives! Campaign was an extraordinary success thanks to supporters like you. With the matching funds offered through this generous community based philanthropic effort, CCPMC received $39,664 from 85 donors!
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We have a strategic plan in place and are committed to putting these funds to meaningful use in advancing local investigations. Stay tuned as we share our progress.
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Solving Cold Cases Requires Collaboration: Our Featured Partners:
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SERI: Serological Research Institute Richmond CA, Our first contract partner for DNA collection including wet vacuum technology that allows higher levels of DNA material to be detected.
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Othram: Forensic Genetic Genealogy experts , working with us currently on two projects. They also sponsor DNAsolves, a crowdsourcing project to help with Unidentified Human Remains. 3 of our cases are currently being worked through this process.
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Hawks Consulting LLC: Expert cellphone forensics, including expert testimony in the Yvette Martinez case.
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Special Thanks and Appreciation to : WEBSLEUTHS YouTube Live PODCAST , Tricia Griffith, Host and Stacy Christensen, Producer, for featuring the Cold Case Project of Monterey County on their January 14, 2026, live stream. Interested in true crime? Check out the WEBSLEUTHS YouTube Live PODCAST.
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Cold Case Project of Monterey County Media Conference
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December 2025: Cold Case Project of Monterey County donates over $22,000 to fund advanced technology for thirteen cases for five Monterey County law enforcement agencies. The CCPMC looks forward to partnering with even more agencies in 2026!
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Did you miss the media conference? Click on the picture to view it on our visit our webpage at https://www.coldcasesmonterey.org/cold-case-project-news/
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We have recently funded evidence review on the Francis DeAlvis case and are awaiting new leads.
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If you know something, please contact the Monterey Police Department at (831) 646-3830.
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Case Highlight
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Help Bring Justice for Francis DeAlvis
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In 1984, Francis DeAlvis was a beloved 58-year-old elementary school teacher living alone in Monterey. On August 16, 1984, after several days without contact, his family and apartment manager discovered him deceased in his apartment. He had been tragically stabbed to death, and the scene showed signs of being ransacked.
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Despite an initial investigation, no definitive suspects were identified.
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Today, the Monterey Police Department and the District Attorney’s Office Cold Case Task Force continue to work tirelessly to bring answers to Francis’ family. Investigators have re-examined evidence using modern DNA testing methods. While earlier efforts have not yet identified a suspect, rapid advancements in forensic science now offer renewed hope.
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With emerging DNA technologies and Investigative Genetic Genealogy, there is a real opportunity to uncover new leads from previously tested evidence — but this work requires funding.
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Francis was more than a case file. He was a teacher, a family member, and a valued part of his community. His family deserves answers.
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Please help us continue funding advanced forensic testing to move Francis’ case — and other cold cases — toward resolution.
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Every contribution brings us one step closer to justice.
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The power of Community, Innovation, and Persistence: A President’s Message
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Dear Friends and Supporters,
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I begin this message with heartfelt congratulations to the DA’s Cold Case Task Force for securing their eighteenth homicide case closed since 2020. On February 10, 2026, a jury returned a first-degree murder verdict in the homicide of Yvette Martinez of Greenfield.
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On October 10, 2010, Yvette—a 22-year-old single mother—disappeared after exchanging a series of heated text messages with her ex-boyfriend, Noel Ledesma. She was driving home to her parents’ house after a date. The following day, her car was discovered abandoned on a remote turnout along Highway 198, engulfed in flames, with Yvette’s body in the trunk. She had been strangled.
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Investigators determined that Ledesma had grown increasingly jealous and angry that Yvette was out with someone else and ignoring his calls and messages. Although he was the primary suspect, the case eventually went cold.
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In 2024, the Cold Case Task Force retained an expert, Jason Riechers, Hawks Consulting LLC, who used advanced cell phone analysis technology to reexamine the evidence. This updated analysis revealed that Ledesma’s phone had been positioned near the cell tower closest to Yvette’s home prior to her disappearance—conclusively disproving the alibi he and his brother gave to investigators in 2010.
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Today, complex cell phone technology provides powerful new tools for solving cases that once seemed unsolvable. This breakthrough underscores the importance of continued investment in investigative advancements.
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February 19th is Yvette’s birthday. This year, her family will celebrate not only her life, but also the peace that justice has finally brought.
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The Cold Case Project of Monterey County is committed to funding this type of advanced forensic analysis for future cases. Through Yvette’s case, we witnessed firsthand the powerful impact that cell phone records, text message data, and cell tower analysis can have in helping a jury reach a verdict beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Cases like this remind us why we cannot stop. The pursuit of justice does not expire.
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As always, our newsletters and website will keep you informed. We will continue sharing stories of hope, resolution, and the tangible ways your support is changing lives.
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Thank you for standing with us. Together, we give voice to the voiceless—and hope to the heartbroken.
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With gratitude and determination,
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