A man has been charged with murder after the body of a woman who was fighting Stage 4 breast cancer was found stuffed inside a suitcase.
Vanessa Sanchez, 37, was discovered dead at her flat in Berkeley, California, following a wellness check by a property manager on May 30. Her remains were found inside a bin bag, which had been placed inside a suitcase.
The grim discovery came just days after she was reportedly seen entering the apartment with Damarcus David Jones, 28, who has now been charged with her murder. Detectives stated that Jones was last seen entering the flat with Sanchez on May 24, the last day she was seen alive. Surveillance footage captured Jones returning to the building carrying a large roller suitcase.
Jones was arrested on June 2 in Solano County, California, and charged with murder. Court records cited by NBC Bay Area indicate that Jones told investigators he killed Sanchez and attempted to cover up the odor by opening windows and using an air purifier.
Sanchez's death has devastated her family, as she had been battling advanced breast cancer. Her mother, Mary Sanchez, had set up a GoFundMe account after Sanchez's metastatic breast cancer diagnosis in 2023, describing her as a "beautiful, kind, generous, funny, and so full-of-life" woman facing a "very hard journey ahead." The fundraiser raised $47,415 of a $60,000 goal.
An update on the GoFundMe page announced the "devastating heartbreak" of her death, with a tribute reading: "In 2023 she was diagnosed with Stage Four Breast Cancer. She fought hard, with bravery and grace. Vanessa loved fiercely and wholeheartedly. She had an extraordinary gift for making people feel seen, valued, loved and deeply cared for."
The tribute added: "While our hearts are devastated beyond measure, we are also profoundly grateful for the gift of having Vanessa in our lives. Her remarkable personality, incredible talents, courage, and determination inspired so many."
