Thirty-two years after Zachary Jackson was shot dead in his Hayward home in 1993, leaving behind two children barely old enough to remember him, the law has finally reached two suspects across the country — one in New York, one in Iowa. The arrests of Veronica Fonseca and Anthony Fox remind us that justice does not always move swiftly, but it can move with remarkable patience, sustained by the courage of those willing to speak the truth long after the world has moved on. This case stands as both a reckoning and a quiet testament to the enduring weight of unresolved loss.
32-Year-Old Cold Case Solved: Two Arrested in 1993 Hayward Killing
Zachary Jackson, 30, was shot to death in his home in 1993, leaving behind two young children ages 4 and 1 at the time.
There is no statute of limitations on murder. Keep looking over your shoulder.
Mark
Why did it take so long to identify these two suspects if they were interviewed early on?
Mimi
In 1993, investigators focused on the landlord dispute because that seemed like the obvious motive. Fonseca was the mother of his children—there was nothing in the initial evidence that pointed to her. Without DNA technology or digital records, they were working almost entirely on witness accounts and physical evidence. The wrong lead can bury the right one.
Mark
What changed this year that finally broke the case open?
Mimi
They found other witnesses with similar stories. That's the key phrase—similar stories. It suggests a pattern, maybe a pattern of behavior or knowledge that corroborated what the 2014 and 2021 tipsters had said. Once you have multiple independent accounts saying the same thing, you have something a jury can believe.
Mark
The detective mentioned a "roadblock" but wouldn't say what it was. What does that usually mean?
Mimi
It could be anything—a missing piece of evidence, a witness who wouldn't cooperate, a legal technicality, something that made the case unprosecutable at that moment. The point is, they couldn't move forward until they found a way around it. Sometimes that takes years and a fresh set of eyes.
Mark
Jackson's children were one and four when he died. Do we know what happened to them?
Mimi
The source doesn't say. That's the gap in the story—the human aftermath. Two young children lost their father. Their mother is now charged with his murder. That's a family destroyed twice over.
Mark
Why would Fonseca's own children's mother kill him? What was the motive?
Mimi
The prosecutors won't say. They're protecting the case for trial. But the fact that both she and Fox were present, and that Fox pulled the trigger, suggests this wasn't a random act. It was deliberate. Whether it was about money, jealousy, or something else—that's what the jury will have to decide.
Der Puls
- A 1993 cold-case murder suddenly broke open when investigators developed new evidence and located witnesses willing to finally speak — 32 years after the crime.
- Two suspects were apprehended simultaneously on opposite sides of the country, one in Queens and one in Iowa, suggesting a coordinated and long-prepared law enforcement effort.
- The case had stalled twice before — in 2014 and again in 2021 — when tips naming the same two suspects ran into an undisclosed investigative roadblock that blocked progress for years.
- Authorities redirected resources earlier this year, found additional corroborating witnesses, and secured warrants, finally breaking through the impasse that had frustrated detectives for a decade.
- Both suspects now face murder and first-degree residential burglary charges with firearm enhancements, and prosecutors say the case is likely headed to trial.
Thirty-two years after Zachary Jackson was shot dead in his Hayward home in 1993, leaving behind two children barely old enough to remember him, the law has finally reached two suspects across the country — one in New York, one in Iowa. The arrests of Veronica Fonseca and Anthony Fox remind us that justice does not always move swiftly, but it can move with remarkable patience, sustained by the courage of those willing to speak the truth long after the world has moved on. This case stands as both a reckoning and a quiet testament to the enduring weight of unresolved loss.
Thirty-two years after Zachary Jackson was found shot inside his Hayward home, the Alameda County Sheriff's Office announced the arrests of Veronica Fonseca and Anthony Fox in connection with his June 1993 death. Jackson was 30 years old when he was killed, leaving behind a daughter and son who were four and one at the time. Fonseca was the mother of those children, and she and Fox had been in a relationship that year.
Fonseca had been interviewed during the original investigation, but detectives found no evidence of her involvement and instead pursued a theory involving a landlord dispute. Without the digital tools and DNA capabilities available today, the case went cold within months.
A tip in 2014 named both Fonseca and Fox as the killers, and Detective Pat Smyth pursued the lead — only to hit a roadblock he could not get around. A second tip in 2021 named the same suspects, and while the witness cooperated fully, the same obstacle remained. It was not until earlier this year that investigators developed a strategy to break through, redirected resources, and located additional witnesses with consistent accounts. Warrants were issued, and on November 6, Fonseca was arrested in Queens by the U.S. Marshals Service while Fox was apprehended in Sioux City, Iowa. Both await extradition.
Smyth identified Fox as the one who fired the fatal shot and confirmed both were present during the killing. Neither he nor prosecutors would discuss motive, citing concern about influencing a future jury. Alameda County District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson announced charges of murder and first-degree residential burglary with firearm enhancements against both suspects.
Smyth credited the breakthrough to witnesses who ultimately found the courage to come forward, and offered a pointed reminder to anyone who believed time had shielded them from accountability: there is no statute of limitations on murder. For Jackson's children — now adults in their thirties — the arrests arrive as a long-delayed answer to a loss that shaped their entire lives.
Thirty-two years after a man was shot dead in his Hayward home, authorities have arrested two people in connection with the killing. On Monday, the Alameda County Sheriff's Office announced that Veronica Fonseca and Anthony Fox had been taken into custody for the June 1993 death of Zachary Jackson, a 30-year-old found shot inside his residence in an unincorporated area of the city.
Fonseca was the mother of Jackson's two children—a daughter and son who were four and one year old when their father was killed. She and Fox, who had dated in 1993, were identified as suspects decades after the crime. The arrests came roughly two weeks after the sheriff's office disclosed that it had uncovered new evidence and developed investigative leads from that material. Fonseca was arrested on November 6 by the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force in Queens, New York. Fox was apprehended the same day by the Sioux City Police Department in Iowa. Both are awaiting extradition to Alameda County.
When Jackson was killed, Fonseca had already been interviewed as part of the initial investigation, but detectives found nothing to suggest her involvement. Instead, they pursued a theory centered on a dispute Jackson was having with his landlord. The case quickly went cold. In 1993, investigators lacked the technological tools available today—no digital footprints to trace, no sophisticated DNA analysis. They relied on witnesses, fingerprints, and traditional detective work. Within months, the trail had gone silent.
The case remained dormant until 2014, when someone called the sheriff's office with information identifying Fonseca and Fox as Jackson's killers. Detective Pat Smyth pursued the lead, but investigators hit what he described as a "roadblock" that prevented them from moving forward. The case stalled again. In 2021, another tip arrived naming the same two suspects. Smyth interviewed the person who provided the information, and they cooperated fully. Yet the earlier obstacle remained in place, blocking progress.
It was not until earlier this year that the sheriff's office developed a strategy to break through the impasse. Resources were redirected to the case, and investigators located additional witnesses with similar accounts. Armed with this new foundation, warrants were issued for both Fonseca and Fox. On Tuesday, Alameda County District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson announced that each had been charged with murder and first-degree residential burglary, along with sentencing enhancements for being armed with a firearm.
Smyth stated that both Fonseca and Fox were present when Jackson was shot, and that Fox was the one who fired the fatal shot. Neither Smyth nor Deputy District Attorney Jimmie Wilson would disclose details about the motive, citing concern about tainting a potential jury pool. Wilson noted at the press conference that the case would likely proceed to trial.
Smyth framed the resolution as a testament to the power of witness cooperation and persistence. "It's a good example of what happens when good people have the courage to come forward," he said. He also issued a warning to anyone who might believe they had escaped accountability for murder: there is no statute of limitations on the crime. Years or decades might pass, but the law's reach is long and patient. Jones Dickson echoed the sentiment, emphasizing that while this particular case took three decades to resolve, murder charges can be brought at any time. The case stands as a reminder that closure for victims and their families can arrive even after generations have passed.
Bemerkenswerte Zitate
It's a good example of what happens when good people have the courage to come forward. There is no statute of limitations on murder.— Detective Pat Smyth, Alameda County Sheriff's Office
This is a case that took 32 years to resolve, but murder has no limit on when we can charge you.— Alameda County District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson
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