SJPD Arrests Suspect for 1987 Cold Case Homicide

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

 

On April 22, 1987, at approximately 8:00 PM, San José Police Department Patrol Officers responded to a residence located in the 600 block of Nordale Avenue for a report of a person down. Upon arrival, Officers located an adult male victim who was unconscious and not breathing. The victim had an electrical cord wrapped around his neck and was pronounced deceased on scene. 

SJPD Homicide Unit Detectives responded to the scene and began a comprehensive investigation into the incident. Despite investigative efforts, a suspect was not identified nor apprehended at the time of the incident.

In 2024, the case was reopened by SJPD Homicide Unit Detectives alongside the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office Cold Case Team. With the help of crime lab technology, Detectives were able to identify Joseph Abeyta as the suspect responsible for the 1987 murder.

Detectives discovered suspect Abeyta was already in custody at the Santa Clara County Main Jail for an unrelated incident. The suspect was subsequently booked into the Santa Clara County Jail for murder. 

The motive and circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

Solving this case was made possible by San José Police Department Homicide Unit Detectives, in collaboration with the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office. This is the ninth cold case homicide solved by SJPD in 2024 and another example of the successful collaboration between our Department and the District Attorney’s Office.

"The tenacity and dedication of our Homicide Unit Detectives and our DA Investigators made solving this case possible," stated SJPD Acting Chief of Police Paul Joseph. "The San José Police Department values this partnership and will continue to seek justice for the victims of unsolved homicides. Case closed."

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Van Den Broeck #3829 or Detective Estantino #4339 of the San José Police Department Homicide Unit via email: 3829@sanjoseca.gov and/or 4339@sanjoseca.gov at 408-277-5283.

Submit crime tips and remain anonymous by using the P3TIPS mobile app, calling the tip line at (408) 947-STOP, or on www.siliconvalleycrimestoppers.org. If the information you submit leads to an arrest, you are eligible for a cash reward from the Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers Program.