SANTA CRUZ COUNTY—Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a man in Turlock Thursday on suspicion of murder in a cold case stemming back to 1995. Investigators were able to find forensic evidence linking John Laroche, 63, to the case, Ashley Keehn, a spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office, said.
Laroche was arrested near his Turlock home on suspicion of killing 41-year-old Gloria Hassemer and dumping her body below the Highway 1 Pajaro River overcrossing in Watsonville.
“The murder shook our community back in 1995, and our detectives have been committed to making an arrest since,” Sheriff Jim Hart said. “We’ve seen the heartbreak it’s brought to Gloria’s loved ones and we are proud to be taking this step toward justice.”
Detectives tied Laroche to connections in Santa Clara County and the Central Valley through his criminal history.
There could be additional victims, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Hassemer was a single mother of two teens and had worked at the Wooden Nickel II, according to a story written by this publication. She had last been seen near the intersection of Ocean and Water streets in Santa Cruz around 4am after her release from the County Jail following a DUI arrest in Watsonville.
Initial reports suggested she may have hitched a ride from Santa Cruz to Watsonville (she lived on White Street off Riverside Drive). Her car had been impounded following her arrest.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call 454-7635.
