Remains of Stockton woman, 25, missing since October found at Modesto home; homicide suspect behind bars
MODESTO – Stanislaus County detectives say they have identified the remains of a Stockton woman who was first reported missing last year.
Stephanie Fagundes, 25, was last seen by family in October 2022.
The Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) said in a press release on Tuesday that detectives with the Modesto Police Department served an arrest warrant for 41-year-old Albert Gonzalez at an Airport District home in Modesto back on November 18, 2022. Gonzalez was wanted on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon for firing shots at another woman in an unrelated case.
During their investigation, however, detectives with SCSO executed a search warrant based on a tip from a concerned citizen. They got word that there could be human remains on the property.
"He had been burning something. And it was a little bit odd what he was burning, to them," said Sgt. Veronica Esquivez, spokesperson for SCSO.
A search warrant was served at the home the same day of Gonzelez's November 18 arrest. Partial human remains that had been dismembered and burned were discovered, the sheriff's office said.
"They found body parts. They did not know if they were human or not," said Esquivez. "We don't know what happened prior to that or when it happened."
With the help of an anthropology team from Chico State University, DNA evidence confirmed the remains were identified as that of the 25-year-old Fagundes, authorities announced Tuesday.
Gonzalez is now facing new charges of murder in connection to Fagundes' death. He has been behind bars since his November arrest on assault charges.
Detectives noted that the case remains under investigation. No details have been released on Fagundes' cause of death, why Gonzalez killed her, or if the two knew each other.
Authorities told CBS13 Tuesday they are confident the remains of Fagundes are the only human remains found at the home.
Still, much of Fagundes' remains are still missing. SCSO is asking the community for help finding them.
"We are just trying to get any information to see if there is any other places her body may be that we can recover for the family," said Esquivez.
CBS13 reached out to family members of Fagundes on Tuesday afternoon to try and speak with them about the six-month-long search for their loved one coming to a heartbreaking end, and how they want Fagundes to be remembered. We have not yet heard back.