Sheriff Asks For Help

Reward Increased to $5,000 in 2016 Suspicious Death Case

Family members of victim, Vidal Zepeda, have given a $3,000 donation to
Valley Crime Stoppers. This raises the existing reward of $2,000 to a total
of $5,000.

At 9:00 am on Monday, February 22nd, 2016, the Fresno County Sheriff’s
Office received a report of a body being found in the California Aqueduct.
The specific area of the canal is between W. Clarkson Ave. and W. Elkhorn
Ave., near the community of Three Rocks. The FSO dive team reported to
the scene to recover the body of 39 year old Vidal Zepeda of Gilroy.
Homicide detectives began an investigation into this suspicious death.

They discovered Zepeda’s family last heard from him on February 4th, 2016.
He was reported as a missing person to the Gilroy Police Department on
February 6th, 2016. Later on that day, after the report was made, California
Highway Patrol officers found Zepeda’s vehicle, a silver 2012 Ford Flex,
parked in a pistachio orchard near Highway 33 and W. Clarkson Ave. It was
towed to a storage location.

Detectives continue to seek the public’s help in establishing the
whereabouts of Vidal Zepeda prior to his death.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Crime
Stoppers at (559) 498-7867 or http://www.valleycrimestoppers.org

All tips will remain anonymous and you may be eligible for the $5,000 cash
reward. Case # 16-2948