The Murder of Julie Ann Gonzalez
For this case, I watched an episode of On the Case with Paula Zahn. It’s season 20 episode 9, titled ‘Texts, Lies and Videotape.’
A young mother disappears after dropping off her daughter.
Background
Julie Ann Gonzalez was just 21-years-old at the time of her disappearance. Julie was married to a man named George De La Cruz, but they were estranged and not living together. Julie and George had a young daughter together, who was about 2 at the time her mom disappeared.
Julie was always busy with her job as a pharmacy technician, going to school, and spending time with her daughter. Julie’s loved ones said her daughter was her world, and she wouldn’t never left her behind. Julie was also very reliable and in constant contact with her family.
Julie Ann Gonzalez
Julie with her daughter
The Disappearance
On March 26, 2010, a Friday, Julie was last seen by her estranged husband, George. George said Julie had come over to drop their daughter off, as they shared custody of her.
Julie had Fridays off, so her aunt, Dora Soto, expected Julie to contact her. When Julie didn’t respond to texts and calls, her family began to worry.
Julie’s aunt, mom, Sandra, and sister, Samantha, spoke to George. George claimed that Julie told him she was going away for a few days on a trip. They all said that Julie wouldn’t have left behind her daughter, and would’ve at least told one family member that she was leaving.
By 11pm that night, Dora and Sandra reported Julie missing to the Austin, Texas police. The police didn’t have any evidence that Julie hadn’t left on her own. They said she was an adult, and was allowed to leave. Dora and Sandra also mentioned that Julie’s new car was also missing.
The Text Messages
By the next day, Saturday, Julie’s family and new boyfriend, Aaron, were receiving text messages from her.
Julie’s sister believed it was her as she had referred to her by her nickname. Julie’s aunt, mom and boyfriend weren’t so sure. Aaron had received a message from Julie that she was breaking up with him. Sandra was shocked because Julie was madly in love with him.
Julie had also posted a message on Facebook that she was depressed, and posted some messages to her MySpace page. On MySpace, Julie had wrote that she had met a man named James in Colorado, and couldn’t wait to start her life over there.
Dora and Sandra knew that these messages weren’t Julie. Julie wouldn’t have left her daughter and it wasn’t how Julie would write. Aaron asked Julie to tell him what his middle was name. The person on the other end said they “didn’t have time for games,” and never sent another message to Julie’s family members.
Julie’s Last Movements
The police still didn’t have any evidence that Julie hadn’t left on her own. But, they did speak to George, as he was the last person who saw Julie. George said Julie dropped off their daughter, and left abruptly.
Julie’s family began their own investigation. Dora went driving around south Austin, and spotted Julie’s new car in the parking lot of a Walgreens. Dora said she ran inside, and looked all over the store for Julie. Julie wasn’t there.
Dora contacted Sandra about what she had found. Together, they checked Julie’s trunk, and didn’t find her. They did spot a paper bag in the backseat, which had asthma medication inside for Julie’s daughter. It wasn’t like Julie to not give George such an important medication for their daughter.
Dora asked one of the employees inside Walgreens if Julie had been there. She showed him a picture, and he said she looked familiar. Dora also asked him if he knew anything about the car outside. He told Dora that a girl had entered the store, and said she was having car issues.
The police obtained the surveillance footage from Walgreens. There were several women that matched the description of Julie. But, Julie herself hadn’t entered the store.
The Prime Suspect
Julie’s family plastered the city with a billboard, posters, and handed out t-shirts with Julie’s picture on them.
The police looked at Julie’s phone records and social media accounts. Julie’s phone and social media had gone quiet, and hadn’t been used since March 27.
George’s mom, Victoria De La Cruz made a frantic phone call to the police. She asked them to come to her house, because she had found a large hole in the storage shed of the home she shared with her son. Victoria could be heard saying that she started to dig, but got scared.
When the police arrived, Victoria was covered in dirt, and was shaken. The hole that Victoria had contacted them about looked like a grave. George told the police that the hole was an electrical trench. Julie wasn’t found inside the hole.
The police obtained Julie’s bank records. On March 26, George had used Julie’s card at Walmart and Best Buy. George had purchased an Xbox points card at Best Buy because he had an obsession with video games. George’s obsession with video games was one of the reasons he and Julie split. George would’ve rather stayed home all day to game then to work and earn money.
The Evidence
Victoria gave the police permission to search the house. Inside, they found the purchases from both stores and a receipt from Best Buy. The police obtained the surveillance footage from both stores. They saw George with his daughter at both stores.
Jim Cook, a wireless expert, examined George’s phone to map out his movements from March 26. He also compared them to Julie’s phone. Julie and George’s phones both moved together, which proved that George had possession of her phone.
George had also accessed his MySpace page and Julie’s page from the same IP address. The police also looked at George’s Xbox activity. George was known to play video games for around 12-15 hours a day. On March 26, he hadn’t played for about 20 hours.
The police believed George had done something to Julie, but they didn’t have much evidence to even prove that she was dead.
The Arrest
For 3 years, Julie’s family waited for answers, and had to share custody with George. Sandra said she asked George constantly if Julie was going to come back. Sandra said George always said she was going to someday.
On September 13, 2013, George De La Cruz was arrested and charged with murder.
The prosecution offered George a reduced sentence of 50 years if he cooperated. George always denied being involved. He rejected the offer, and pled not guilty.
George’s trial began in April 2015. George never showed remorse, but seemed nervous.
The prosecution didn’t have a body, but needed to convince the jury that Julie was never coming back. They said a knife, ammunition, and some clothing that appeared to have been burned was also found in the De La Cruz’s backyard and shed.
On April 22, 2015, George De La Cruz was found guilty. He put his head down while Julie’s family celebrated.
George was sentenced to life in prison. He will be eligible for parole in 2043.
Julie’s family said they are praying that George will someday tell them where Julie is. They hope that he will let his daughter know what really happened to her mom.
George De La Cruz
FINAL THOUGHTS
I’m pretty surprised that Julie has never been found. George doesn’t seem like the brightest crayon in the box. He seemed to have thought he could get away with everything. He seemed to have thought that the police wouldn’t check Julie’s phone records or social media. I hope he will tell Julie’s family where Julie is, but I doubt it. My heart goes out to Julie’s family, but especially her daughter for losing both her mom and dad.
Sources
https://thecinemaholic.com/julie-ann-gonzalez-murder-where-is-george-de-la-cruz-now/
https://www.tdcaa.com/journal/a-murder-case-with-no-body/
https://www.kxan.com/news/testimony-burned-clothes-knife-found-in-de-la-cruz-backyard/
