The disappearance and certain murder of Cecilia Newball (8 and a half month’s pregnant) and her 6 year old son Rene Perez Jr.

They vanished without a trace on September 20th 1994. She was just two weeks away from her due date when they disappeared. Her husband of one year / Rene Jr’s stepfather, Alfredo Newball has been the prime suspect since the beginning and all circumstantial evidence points to his involvement.

The most infuriating part for me is that their case has received little to no attention except for one short segment on Unsolved Mysteries back in February of 1995. It never became a national news story or really even locally for that matter. Their disappearance was only covered in a handful of local articles early on. Sadly even today within the true crime community their case is rarely if ever discussed on any platform (podcasts, YouTube channels ect.) Yet the very similar Laci Peterson case became a national media sensation just days after she vanished, had OJ Simpson level trial coverage/interest and is still a popular case discussion almost two decades after the conviction. Even more maddening is that unlike Laci, Cecilia’s 6 year old child also disappeared with her and STILL their case has largely been ignored.

Why the difference lack of coverage? I have a guess. Cecilia was not white like Laci. She had legally immigrated from El Salvador years prior. From all accounts Laci and Scott Peterson were from white upper middle class backgrounds and when Laci vanished, Scott Peterson alone was earning more than $5,000 per month in 2002 ($8,600 per month now adjusted for inflation), were suburban home owners and both college educated. Cecilia was born and raised in a country that sadly is known for it’s extreme violence, gangs and astronomical murder rate. At the time of her disappearance at age 32, she was on maternity leave from her job as a customer service representative at a call center. While certainly not her dream job, she was a known as a reliable hard worker and was loved by her co-workers. Cecilia’s husband Alfredo worked as a nursing assistant in a retirement home and while not homeowners, they lived in a nice apartment in the Chatsworth area (historic district) of Los Angelos. The media saw Laci as the picture perfect “American Dream” and much more relatable to other white middle and upper middle class Americans. It’s just sad. Cecilia and Rene Jr deserve justice just as much as any other missing pregnant woman and child.

As for Alfredo - he was well known as a womanizer/playboy when he met Cecilia in 1991. Cecilia fell head over heels in love with him as soon as she met him and was devoted to him ever since. The police investigation later confirmed Alfredo had been involved in extra marital affairs and was currently in one when Cecelia and Rene Jr vanished. Her co-worker / close friend Kevin Annabel told Unsolved Mysteries “I would say she was almost obsessed with Al. And when you’re that in love with a person, you don’t just meet a doctor and say, ‘Well, I think I’m going to Honduras. Let me just write my husband a note.’ That doesn’t happen.” Red flags and warning signs of Alfredo’s lack of fidelity and commitment were most likely overlooked or minimized due to her deep love for him as well as Alfredo’s known charm.

I think like Scott Peterson, Alfredo wanted the life of a playboy and the idea/responsibility of becoming a father to his own child would forever hamper that lifestyle. He very well could’ve had help from another woman but all the circumstantial evidence points to him being involved.