Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Pregnant Woman Murdered in 1980 Identified After 46 Years

2/24/2026

38 9 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Maricela Rocha Parga, a pregnant woman murdered in 1980, was identified after 46 years as Jane Doe Ventura County.
Her body was found at Westlake High School in Thousand Oaks on July 18, 1980.
DNA evidence linked convicted killer Wilson Chouest to her murder in 2018.
Genetic genealogy by the DNA Doe Project led to Parga's identification in January 2026.
Chouest is serving consecutive life sentences without parole.

History

Historical Context

The 1980 murders of Maricela Rocha Parga and Shirley Soosay in California highlighted the challenges of unsolved crimes. In 2017, the DNA Doe Project was established to leverage genetic genealogy for identifying victims. By January 2026, Parga was identified, showcasing the growing reliance on DNA technology since the 1996 introduction of the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) in criminal investigations.

1 of 2

Story summary

Maricela Rocha Parga, a pregnant woman murdered in 1980, was identified after 46 years as Jane Doe Ventura County.
Her body was found at Westlake High School in Thousand Oaks on July 18, 1980.
DNA evidence linked convicted killer Wilson Chouest to her murder in 2018.
Genetic genealogy by the DNA Doe Project led to Parga's identification in January 2026.
Chouest is serving consecutive life sentences without parole.

1 / 2