Case Profiles #80
Luis Fernando Gonzalez-Sandoz
On September 6th, 2011, the police in Fair Haven, Connecticut were alerted to Poplar Street, between Lombard Street and Chatham Street. When they arrived, they found a victim who had been shot several times, and he unfortunately was pronounced dead on the scene. The man was later identified as 45-year-old Luis Fernando Gonzalez-Sandoz of New Haven, a father who worked at a local barber shop. Luis was described as a hard-working and personable man, and his death not only shocked and devastated his family, but also sent fear through the city. Luis’s murder happened just one day after another young man was shot and killed, and his death marked the 21st homicide in New Haven in the first 9 months of the year (surpassing 2020’s total of 20 murders). New Haven Police Officer Scott Shumway said that at that point in time, “Our numbers, I believe, have already surpassed last year in total guns seized and arrests made” citing the rising number of gun-related murders and crimes. As a result of the increased rate of homicide, New Haven set out to expand public safety to match the level of crime. A shooting task force was formed, and there was an urgent increase in cameras and ShotSpotter technology around the city. Additionally, the number of street outreach workers was doubled, and a re-entry center was opened to help work with individuals who had a history of jail time in order to help prevent them from re-offending and from further gun violence. Luis’ murder remains unsolved. Anyone with any information on the murder of Luis Fernando Gonzalez-Sandoz is asked to please call the New Haven Police Department Investigative Services Division at 203-946-6304.
Jesus de la Cruz
6-year-old Jesus De La Cruz was last seen on September 28th, 1996 at about 6:00 p.m. He was walking with a friend who was older than him at 9-years-old on Park Street in the Commons area of Lynn, Massachusetts. Jesus and his family lived right up the street and he was heading home after playing with other kids in Bennett Circle. Bennett Circle was a dead-end street that wasn’t too busy, so kids often gathered there to ride their bikes or play. Jesus’ bike, pink and Huffy brand, had two flat tires, so he was slowly but surely pushing it back home. Jesus’ friend, the 9-year-old boy, had said that he and Jesus were walking together when a white male in his 20’s-30’s with shoulder length black hair was walking with his dog and approached the boys. The dog looked like a shepherd or type of collie with one white eye and one brown eye. The man noticed Jesus’ bike with the flat tires and told him to go with him as he had a spare bike he wasn’t using and wanted to give it to Jesus. This was the last time Jesus was ever seen.
The man was later identified as 26-year-old Robert C. Levesque. He lived right around the corner from Jesus and his family and owned a dog that fit the exact description that Jesus’ friend gave police. The dog was named Peaches and was found at one of the seven addresses Robert gave police as recent residences. Robert and his dog were well known among other kids in the neighborhood as they easily recognized the dog because of its different colored eyes. Robert moved around a lot and bounced around various apartments in the area. Robert’s current apartment was searched and investigators discovered duct tape and handcuffs. Robert was also found to have called in sick from work on the same evening of Jesus’ disappearance. He was arrested and later charged with a parole violation as he was on probation for stealing from his employer as well as motor vehicle offenses and possession of stolen property. Due to lack of evidence, he was not charged with Jesus's disappearance. The Massachusetts Department of Social Services made accusations against Jesus’ mom, Magdalena Rodriguez, of neglect after her son’s disappearance as she didn’t report him missing until midnight after he had been missing for six hours. This was unfortunately not the first time social or child services had been involved with the family, and there had been other accounts of people seeing little Jesus and his other siblings out playing after dark and unaccompanied by an adult. Magdalena organized a candlelight vigil for her missing son and urged the public and the police to help however they could. Jesus's father, Juan De La Cruz, had been accused of abusing his son and threatening to abduct him from Magdalena’s custody, but he was living out of state at this time and came to Massachusetts to help search for his son when he learned he was missing.
Nearby ponds were drained and DNA was collected from the family in the event that any remains fitting Jesus’ description were found. Multiple tips all over the area as well as all over the country have come in regarding Jesus and his whereabouts, but none have been confirmed. Over the years, Robert Levesque has been committing petty crimes here and there, but his crimes have also been escalating. In the last few years, Robert was caught impersonating a Lowell Fire Official, a police officer, and oddly, a Fox 25 News photographer in July of 2021. He still remains a person of interest in the disappearance of Jesus De La Cruz. At the time of his disappearance, Jesus was 6-years-old, was 4’6” and weighed 60lbs. He was last seen wearing a white t-shirt, blue jeans and brown or yellow boots or high-top sneakers. He is a Hispanic male with brown hair and eyes. His left ear is pierced. He has a scar above his left eye and birthmarks on his left calf and the left side of his forehead. Anyone with any information on the disappearance of Jesus De La Cruz is asked to please call the Lynn Police Department at 781-595-2000 or the Massachusetts State Police at 781-396-0100.
Image sources:
facebook.com via On Scene Media New Haven CT - “The Family of Luis Gonzalez-Sandoz is Asking for our Help in Finding Justice for their Loved One”
fbi.gov - “Jesus De la Cruz - Lynn, Massachusetts”