FRESNO COUNTY, California – Fresno County authorities have released new information about an unsolved crime. Bernice Wright was murdered 30 years ago and the alleged perpetrator was identified as Manuel Aguilar.
Investigators say Wright’s case was reopened in 2021 after a DNA sample matched evidence collected in the woman’s murder.
She was shot and stabbed to death, the Fresno County Sheriff said, and was found in a vineyard, stark nude, near Orange and Manning avenues in October 1993.
A DNA match in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) database made possible the identification of the suspect, who is presumed to be 49 years old today.
In the police file, the subject Manuel Aguilar appears with two different dates of birth (8-20-73 and 2-20-75) and several aliases: Miguel Mendoza, Miguel Barragán Aguilar, Manuel Purvandro Acosta, Miguel Costa and Manuel Barragán.
He is described as a Hispanic male, is 5’10” tall and weighs 150 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes.
“If anyone knows the whereabouts of this subject, he is wanted for the murder of Bernice Wright,” detectives say, adding that he is known to travel to and from Mexico and the United States.
Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact Cold Case Detective Sergio Toscano at (559) 600-8027 or Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-7867.
The Stop Crime Program present in California and other states seeks to encourage the community to take part in the fight against crime anonymously and in exchange for financial compensation.
