‘We can’t finish proving it’: 18 years later, Maria Sanchez’s death in Strathmore remains unsolved

STRATHMORE, Calif. (KGPE) – 68-year-old Maria Sanchez was shot and killed back on Sept. 1, 2006. 

Unlike many other cold cases, investigators feel closer to solving the mystery now more than ever before. 

“This is a sad one because we feel like we know who did it but we can’t finish proving it,” said Sgt. Josh Lowry with the Tulare Sheriff’s Office. 

Strathmore is located in Eastern Tulare County, a small town of less than 3,000. In a small town, everyone knows everyone and everyone knew Sanchez. 

“Everyone knew my aunt,” said Maria Sanchez’s niece Regina Avalos. “Everybody talks highly of her until this day.”

Sanchez was known for her generosity. 

Back in 1967, Sanchez and her husband Fernando opened La Tienda Market. 

Anyone who went into her shop wouldn’t leave empty-handed, even if they couldn’t pay. 

The small little corner store was a regular stop for people in town. 

“She was a very giving person,” said Avalos. “She was always there if you needed her.”

Sanchez had a big family, with six children, more than a dozen grandchildren, and even some great-grandchildren. 

“She is my aunt, but I was always with her or my mom,” said Avalos.

Over 17 years ago, the entire town was gearing up for Friday Night lights between Lindsay High School and Strathmore High School. 

“So whoever did it, knew that the community was going to be at that game,” said Avalos.

On that hot summer day, the streets were empty and the businesses were closed, except for La Tienda Market. Maria and her grandson were working inside that day. 

“It was roughly 8-8:30 in the evening when two hooded suspects with bandanas covering their faces, armed with handguns robbed the store,” said Lowry. 

Lowry said Sanchez handed over the money from the register. 

The grandson, unaware of the robbers, came out from the freezer shocked by what was unfolding right before his eyes. 

The masked men robbed the store, shot Maria Sanchez, and ran away. 

“How could someone do that to a 68-year-old woman, especially for less than $100? I don’t understand how something like that would happen,” said Avalos. 

Fernando, who was in their home right next door, rushed to Sanchez’s side, where the two waited for an ambulance. Maria Sanchez passed away. 

Investigators noticed the security camera, but nothing was recorded that night. 

“She would always put the camera on every night, but that night for some reason, they didn’t put the tape in,” said Avalos. 

The sudden death struck the community hard, with hundreds from the community coming together to honor her life. 

As the days and months passed, fear grew in the community with a killer still out on the run. 

“Just knowing that those people were still going into the market,” said Avalos. “That was the fear they had because, just knowing, is this person going to rob us? Is this person going to come back in to do something? You don’t have that sense of being safe.” 

Justice for Maria. That is what Maria’s sister and husband desperately yearned for, but over the years the pain became too much, and eventually, the family sold the store. 

“Not long after her, my mom passed away,” said Avalos. “I believe it was from sadness just like her husband passed from sadness.”

Lowry said the Maria Sanchez case is a difficult one for the department to handle because they believe they know who did it.

“It is to the point, where we just need one person, who we know lied,” said Lowry. “We just need one person to tell us the truth.”

So, if investigators know who did it, why aren’t they behind bars? Lowry said there are current laws and legal hoops the investigators must jump through. 

He said once that person comes forward an arrest will be made. 

“It is only going to be a matter of time,” said Lowry. “Yes, it has been 15-20 years but it is only a matter of time for us to find that one piece of evidence that we need.”