Suspects sought in Orange County murders, rewards offered

The rewards for two unsolved murders in Southern California were announced by Governor Gavin Newsom’s office Friday.

Leads for the two victims’ cases have gone cold and officials are hoping someone will have further information on their cases. The victims were identified as Victoria Barrios, 18, who was killed in Santa Ana and Alan Schwalbe, 61, who was killed in Costa Mesa.

On Aug. 30, 2019, 18-year-old Barrios was walking with two friends when she was shot during a drive-by shooting just after midnight on the 500 block of East Pine Street in Santa Ana.

Barrios was found suffering a gunshot wound to her torso. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators believe the shooting was gang-related, although police said Barrios was not a gang member and was likely not the intended target.

“I lost my baby,” said Eva Barrios, the girl’s mother. “Someone left her there to die in the street like an animal.”

Police released surveillance footage that captured the shooter firing a weapon while hanging out of a moving SUV, described as a red Chevrolet, possibly a Tahoe. The gunman shouted something just before opening fire, leading police to believe the shooting had gang ties.

A second victim, a 17-year-old boy, was also found critically wounded nearby on the 300 block of Hickory Street. Police said the boy, who survived, did not appear to have any gang affiliation either.

Eva described her daughter as a confident person who was eager to do good in her community, the Orange County Register reports. The Los Amigos High School graduate was interested in working with law enforcement and criminal justice.

No suspect description or information is known by authorities. Anyone with information on the case is urged to call the Santa Ana Police Department’s Homicide Detectives at 714-245-8390. A $50,000 reward will be offered for information leading to the suspect’s arrest and conviction.

The second unsolved case involves the murder of Alan Schwalbe, 61.

On Aug. 11, 1993, Schwalbe was found stabbed to death inside his home on the 300 block of 22nd Street in Costa Mesa.

There appeared to be no evidence of a struggle nor signs of forced entry, authorities said. His home also did not appear to be ransacked.

Despite investigators’ efforts, no suspect leads were obtained as the cold case remained unsolved over the years.

Several items collected at the crime scene were re-submitted for forensic testing. Authorities are hoping new technologies can uncover evidence that was previously undetectable.

“The technology used to process forensic evidence is continuously growing and expanding,” said Investigator Bob Taft, who has specialized in cold cases for the sheriff’s department for the past six years. “Items that may have been undetectable just a few short years ago now have the possibility of being discovered and these discoveries can foster new investigative leads. In addition to new technology, people’s friendships, alliances and associations change over time. People who may have been reluctant to come forward during the original investigation may feel more at ease coming forward now because of a change in these associations.”

A reward of $50,000 is being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction for Schwalbe’s murder.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Investigator Bob Taft at 714-647-7055 or email coldcase@ocsheriff.gov.Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling the Orange County Crime Stoppers at 714-628-7675 or online at occrimestoppers.org.

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