Woman, ex-boyfriend charged in Hayward cold case slaying

Former couple charged with murder in 1993 shooting death in East Bay

A former couple has been arrested and charged with murder in the shooting death of a man near Hayward in 1993. One of the defendants is the mother of the victim's two children.

HAYWARD, Calif. - A woman and her former boyfriend have been charged in the cold case killing of her children’s father more than 30 years ago in Hayward.

Suspects identified

What we know:

Veronica Fonseca, 54, and Anthony James Fox, 56, are being held on murder and burglary charges in the 1993 death of 30-year-old Zachary Jackson, according to the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office.

Fox and Fonseca were dating at the time of Jackson’s death. Fonseca is the mother of Jackson’s son, then 1, and daughter, then 4.

"We believe they were both there, and that Mr. Fox was the one who pulled the trigger," said sheriff's Det. Pat Smyth.

Smyth said investigators knew about the former couple's relationship back then but hadn't interviewed Fox. In recent years, investigators fanned out across the country to interview witnesses.

"This is a good example of what happens when good people have the courage to come forward and tell law enforcement what they know," Smyth said.

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Cold case reopened

Dig deeper:

Jackson was found shot to death inside his home on June 17, 1993, in unincorporated Hayward, authorities said.

The case remained unsolved for more than three decades.

In late October, the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office announced it was reopening the investigation following the discovery of new evidence.

The investigation ran into a number of road blocks and stalled over the years. But prosecutor Jimmie Wilson said his boss, DA Ursula Jones Dickson, gave the go-ahead once more evidence came in.

"She said let's do it. Let's try to bring justice to the victim in this case and that's what we did," Wilson said.

The DA and investigators say the charges are a reminder that there is no statute of limitations for murder. 

"This is a case that took 32 years to get there, but all the same, we don't stop the work," Dickson said.

Smyth agreed, saying, "We may not get you tomorrow, next week, next month. But keep looking over your shoulder, because you never know when the long arm of the law is going to reach out and touch you."

Charges filed

Detectives said they believed people in the community had information about those responsible for Jackson’s death.

Two weeks later, the district attorney’s office announced that Fox and Fonseca had been charged in connection with the case. Fonseca was is being held in New York, while Fox was arrested in Sioux City, Iowa.

Henry Lee is a KTVU crime reporter. E-mail Henry at Henry.Lee@fox.com and follow him on Twitter @henrykleeKTVU and www.facebook.com/henrykleefan