FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – Fresno Police announced Friday that new evidence has prompted investigators to reopen the cold case murder of Debbie Dorian.
Police Chief Jerry Dyer revealed that former Fresno PD Homicide Detectives Vince Zavala and Bob Schiotis, are coming out of retirement to investigate new leads in an attempt to solve the twenty year old murder case.
Dorian was found dead in her Northeast Fresno apartment, which is close to the intersection of Cedar and Teague, on August 22nd 1996. Investigators say the Fresno State student had been bound, gagged and raped before her murder.
“That crime scene turned up DNA that proved to be extremely valuable”, says Chief Dyer. “That DNA did match an unnamed suspect who was also connected to a string of sexual assaults which that occurred in Visalia from 1999 to 2002”.
That suspect was described as a Caucasian male, 30-40 years old, blond or gray hair, approximately 5’,6” – 6’,0”, thin to medium build, and armed with a handgun. However, he remains unidentified.
“There are considerable leads that need to be followed up on. Some of those leads are recent developments”.
The two working the case, Detectives Vince Zavala and Bob Schiotis, will be given access to Fresno Police’s resources as part of the effort to catch the person responsible.
“They’re going to be given full reign to investigate this case and do whatever they can to bring it to conclusion”.
The reward for information which leads to an arrest and conviction stands at $57,000.
“If you can think back to where you where in August of 1996”, appealed Debbie’s mother Sara Loven. “Whether you were at Fresno State, or Gold’s Gym, or working at the Piccadilly Inn Airport, or in her apartment complex. If you can think of anything that would give these Detectives some help, any little thing, please call and let them know that.
“Because somebody out there must have seen something”.
Hear the report from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew as it aired:
