San Bernardino County authorities have arrested Raymond Silva Gonzales, 51, in connection with the 2001 disappearance and death of Suzanne Sites‑Fenton, 32. Sites‑Fenton vanished after leaving her job at Mervyn's at the Victor Valley Mall on April 14, 2001; her body was found two days later in the desert in Hesperia with gunshot wounds. Cold case detectives identified a suspect in 2025 and obtained a warrant on Jan. 15; Gonzales is being held without bail while the investigation continues.
Cold-Case Break: Man Arrested in 2001 Abduction and Killing of Suzanne Sites‑Fenton
Suzanne Sites-FentonSan Bernardino County Sheriff's Department
The San Bernardino County Sheriff‑Coroner’s Department announced the arrest of 51‑year‑old Raymond Silva Gonzales in connection with the 2001 disappearance and death of 32‑year‑old Suzanne Sites‑Fenton.
What Happened
According to the department, on April 14, 2001, Sites‑Fenton left her shift at Mervyn's inside the Victor Valley Mall to take a break and walked into the store's parking lot. When she failed to return to work or to her home that day, her husband reported her missing.
The next day her stepfather found her 2000 blue Honda Civic parked behind a Big 5 Sporting Goods store; her purse remained inside the vehicle and investigators later reported signs of a struggle in the car. On April 16, 2001, a man discovered her body in the desert near Mariposa Road and Ranchero Street in Hesperia.
Victor Valley MallGoogle Maps
Investigation and Arrest
Investigators determined that Sites‑Fenton had been kidnapped, sexually assaulted and fatally shot. Cold case detectives continued working the file for years and identified Raymond Silva Gonzales as a suspect in 2025. A warrant for his arrest was obtained on Jan. 15, and he was taken into custody. Gonzales is being held without bail at the High Desert Detention Center.
Note: An arrest is not a conviction. Authorities say the investigation is ongoing and further legal proceedings may follow.
Help From The Public
Officials are asking anyone with information to contact the Homicide Detail at 909‑890‑4904. Those who wish to remain anonymous may contact We‑Tip at 1‑800‑78‑CRIME (27463) or submit a report online at wetip.com.
The arrest has renewed attention on a two‑decade‑old cold case and underscores the role of persistent investigative work in resolving long‑standing unsolved crimes.
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