Marina Ramos, a woman from Bakersfield, California, was found stabbed to death in the Arizona desert on December 12, 1989. The incident sparked a long-standing mystery that remained unsolved for over three decades until recent advances in forensic technology and a reevaluation of the case led to a breakthrough. Investigators were initially unable to identify Ramos due to a lack of matching DNA results, but a renewed effort in February 2022 through the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System identified her as Maria Ortiz, an alias she had used during a 1989 shoplifting arrest in Bakersfield.
Following the identification, authorities focused their efforts on locating the two infant daughters—Elizabeth, 14 months old, and Jasmin, 2 months old—who had vanished shortly after their mother’s death. It took more than two years of investigative work, including press releases, social media outreach, and DNA testing, before the girls were found in a park restroom in Oxnard, California, in August of the current year. A passerby had heard the children crying in the women’s restroom and discovered them lying on the floor without any adults nearby.
The girls were subsequently placed in foster care and remained there for a substantial period before being adopted by a family in Ventura County. Their adoption marked the beginning of their new lives, though the case has brought significant emotional weight to the families involved. Despite the positive resolution of locating the children, the case has not provided closure in another crucial aspect: the murder of Marina Ramos. The sheriff’s office has stated that the search for the perpetrators of her killing continues, and they have encouraged any potential witnesses or individuals with information to come forward.
A witness in the area reported seeing a Hispanic woman and two Hispanic men with the two girls at the park shortly after the abandonment. The woman was seen carrying the younger child in a yellow blanket, and one of the men was carrying the older child. The group was traveling in a black pickup truck, which may provide additional leads for investigators. While the case has provided a rare success in solving a decades-old mystery, the unresolved murder continues to be a significant point of concern for local law enforcement and the community.
The sheriff’s office has issued statements expressing their disappointment and frustration at the lack of progress in identifying the suspect responsible for Ramos’ death. Officials emphasized that the case remains a critical priority and that they are committed to finding justice for the victim and her children. The case has also served as a reminder of the importance of cold case units and the power of forensic advancements in providing closure to long-standing mysteries. As the investigation continues, the hope is that the truth behind Marina Ramos’ murder will finally be uncovered, bringing a sense of justice to her family and the community.