Woman with Stage 4 breast cancer found dead in suitcase
Damarcus David Jones, 28, is accused of killing Vanessa Sanchez, 37, in her Berkeley flat
A California man, Damarcus David Jones, 28, has been charged with the murder of a 37-year-old woman, Vanessa Sanchez, with Stage 4 breast cancer, whose body was discovered stuffed inside a suitcase in her Berkeley apartment on 30 May.
Jones, 28, is accused of killing Sanchez, with authorities arresting him on 2 June in Dixon, California. The case was reported by NBC Bay Area, The Berkeley Scanner, and the East Bay Times, citing court records.
Sanchez was last seen alive on 24 May, when surveillance footage captured her entering her apartment alongside Jones. Two days later, on 26 May, cameras showed Jones returning to the building carrying a black roller suitcase.
Alleged admission and grim discovery
Investigators found Sanchez's body inside the suitcase. Court records cited by the outlets state that Jones allegedly admitted to killing Sanchez and placing her body into bags before putting it in the suitcase.
Jones allegedly also told investigators he opened windows in the apartment and left an air purifier running, knowing Sanchez's body would eventually begin to smell. Phone records placed Jones at the apartment from 24 May through 27 May, according to The Berkeley Scanner and the East Bay Times.
Injuries and autopsy findings
An autopsy revealed that Sanchez suffered multiple injuries. The Berkeley Scanner, citing court records, reported she sustained head injuries potentially caused by blunt-force trauma, as well as neck injuries.
Police described Jones as Sanchez's boyfriend. However, a close friend of Sanchez told The Berkeley Scanner that the relationship "did not rise to that level."
Jones held without bail
Alameda County Sheriff's Office inmate records reviewed by PEOPLE show Jones is being held without bail at Santa Rita Jail. His next court appearance is scheduled for 30 June.
Family tribute and GoFundMe
Sanchez's family announced her death through a memorial statement posted on a GoFundMe page that had originally been set up to help cover the costs of her cancer treatment.
"The world lost a bright, bright light," her family wrote. "Words cannot express the magnitude of this loss."
Her family said they had "lost their heart" when she died, remembering her as someone who "loved fiercely and wholeheartedly" and possessed an "extraordinary gift for making people feel seen, valued, loved and deeply cared for."
Who was Vanessa Sanchez?
Sanchez relocated to Berkeley in 2018 and worked as an admissions administrator for the Academy of Art College. She had been diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer, and her family said she confronted the illness with "bravery and grace."
