Murders of Patrick Garza and April Weber in Stockton, CA

 By Jessica

Patrick Joseph Garza and his girlfriend, April Leann Weber were barely into adulthood when the two of them were murdered in Stockton, CA. Investigators believe the couple were simply at the wrong place at the wrong time when gang violence spilled over and changed the lives for them and their loves ones.

Map or Area near Quik Stop on Fremont Street in Stockton, via Google Maps

 On the night of September 3, 2002, Garza and Weber were in the parking lot of the Quik Stop at 2285 E. Fremont Street using the pay phone when a witness reported hearing gunshots and seeing two men running towards a vehicle. The car they ran towards and left the scene in was described as dark and parked near a closed veterinary clinic. Surveillance footage from the night also showed two men but unfortunately, their faces were not clear. The Stockton Record reported that there were half a dozen shots fired.

Pic of Quik Stop in 2002 via ABC10 from Stockton Police

It was also reported that the Quik Stop parking lot was known as a dangerous place and for its connection to the drug trade. While another crime in the area would be believed to be connected due to ballistic evidence this crime would grow cold over the years. Investigators however, would not give up trying to solve the murder of Patrick Garza and April Weber believing that someone who holds important information would hopefully come forward. And in recent years another piece of crucial evidence is being looked at.

In the parking lot after the murders a cold beer bottle was found in a parking spot. Believing this bottle could be the key to finding whoever was in the parking lot with the victims, DNA was run and a match was found. While this evidence is still in the preliminary stages and hasn't provided enough for an arrest warrant it is still a key piece to the puzzle of this case. Investigators have not released the name of the DNA match to the public but continue to follow the evidence. 

Pic of beer bottle found at scene in 2002 via ABC10 from Stockton Police

Patrick Garza was 21 years old and described by his family as an artist who loved to draw, listen to music and camping trips at Woodward Reservoir in Oakdale, CA. 

April Weber was 20 years old and left behind her mother and a child from a previous relationship.

Both Garza and Weber left behind loved ones and everyone involved deserve closure in this terrible crime.

If you have any information about this crime please contact Stockton Crime Stoppers at 209-946-0600 or online at stocktoncrimestoppers.com.

For more information about this crime: 

Firpo, Eric. "Police Turn to Public for Help in Solving Double Slaying." The Record, Sept 6, 2002. 

Wade, Madison. "Stockon police say they are close to finding out who killed April Weber and Patrick Garza/Unsolved California." ABC 10, March 19, 2021.

Needles Jane Doe

  by Jessica

Researching murder cases means reading stacks of newspapers throughout California. One of the things that far too many cases we've covered, read about or heard about, have in common are victims left on the sides of roads. In article after article the term "dumped" is often used to describe the state of the victim and the place where they were found. It's a term I hate.

Using the word "dumped" feels dehumanizing and I've tried many times to find an alternative way of discussing these cases. The problem: the term is accurate and this is why it's gross. Whoever made the decision to take a life, whether it be stranger or loved one, chose to leave that human being on the side of the road, like trash. 

It's a term that should bother me because it sums up the crime in question perfectly. The humanity of these victims was never a first priority to their murderers. That's the case whether we're talking victims like Idema Cerney, Marcy Conrad, Gwen Araujo or in our recently covered cold case: The Needles Jane Doe. 

Sketch of Needles Jane Doe via The Doe Network

On May 14, 1991, an unidentified person was found deceased in the Mojave Desert alongside Interstate 40 about 30 miles west of Needles, CA.

Location of Needles, CA via Google Maps

Needles, CA is a small city in San Bernardino County in the southern part of California. According to the United States Census Bureau it had approximately 4,959 people living there in 2020. This small town also sits very close to the Arizona border and on both Route 66 and Interstate 40.

Interstate 40 where the victim was found is a major interstate highway that runs through the southern portion of the United States connecting the states of Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee and North Carolina. Interstate-40 is a very busy road and according to the Truck Driver Academy it's one of the busiest interstates in the US for commercial truck traffic. 

All of this means that the Needles Jane Doe could be from anywhere in the United States. 

Map of Interstate-40 via Google Maps

In 1991, when the victim was found it was determined that she had been deceased for several days and her body was described as "decomposed" by the Doe Network. According to the Weather Underground, the average temperature in May of 1991 was 87 degrees Fahrenheit/30 degrees Celsius. This would've contributed to decomposition making narrowing down her exact date of murder difficult. While there isn't an official cause of death investigators believe she died from a homicide. 

The victim's identity is still unknown but according to the Doe Network they were biologically female, between the ages of 24-45 years old, white, five feet four inches tall, approximately 148 pounds with brown hair. Their eye color was unknown.  

There wasn't any identification found with the victim but they were wearing a pink tank top with a picture of a cactus and sunflower on the front, pink knee length leggings with lace fringe and white socks. She was also wearing a yellow metal gold chain. 

Clothes found with Needles Jane Doe via The Doe Network

While there is little known about this victim including who murdered them and callously "dumped" their body on the side of the road, I'm hopeful the details shared by the San Bernardino Sheriff's Office and the Doe Network can finally give this victim back their name. Adding to that hope is that there are DNA, fingerprints and dental records available in this case. 

If you have any information about the Needles Jane Doe please contact the San Bernardino Sheriffs at 909-387-3589. You can also make an anonymous tip at 1-800-78-CRIME.

For more information: 

San Bernardino Sheriff's County: https://wp.sbcounty.gov/sheriff/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2017/07/Doe-Jane.pdf

The Doe Network: https://www.doenetwork.org/cases/101ufca.html

NamUS: https://namus.nij.ojp.gov/case/UP2554

Truck Driving Academy: https://www.truckdriveracademy.com/busiest-interstates-for-trucks/

Weather Underground: https://namus.nij.ojp.gov/case/UP2554