True crime doc lifts the lid on twisted case of ‘bubbly’ cheerleader, 19, who was beaten and strangled to death on NYE – before her partially clothed body was found stuffed in a concrete pipe on January 1

An upcoming documentary aims to uncover the chilling case of a cheerleader who was beaten and strangled to death before her partially clothed body was discovered in a concrete drainage pipe.

Valerie Zavala Wilson, a second-year education major at San Jose State, returned to her hometown of Fillmore, California. That Christmas period 2002.

The 19-year-old aspiring primary school teacher attended a party with friends to ring in the New Year on December 31, but unfortunately never returned home.

It was later revealed that she had been brutally attacked and then killed by then 17-year-old Samuel Puebla, who callously dumped her body.

Here, FEMAIL has revealed the disgusting details of how Oxygen murder for the holidays begins to investigate the case.

The horrific ordeal began at 9:30 pm on New Year’s Eve 2002, when Valerie went to her annual party, accompanied by her cousin Robert Padilla and friend Anna Hinojosa.

She appeared to be in good spirits and was even filmed standing in the kitchen with friends during the countdown—the group also included the former Puebla High School prom king.

Friends reported that at 2 a.m., Valerie, who was the designated driver, offered to take Anna and Puebla home and then planned to visit her ex-boyfriend.

Anna was dropped off first, but school sweetheart Valerie said she never arrived to meet him.

Unfortunately, around 10am the next day, her half-naked body was discovered in a concrete drainage pipe. in a citrus field between Fillmore and Santa Paula.

Her autopsy later revealed that she died of asphyxia and suffered blunt force trauma to the head, which caused her eardrum to rupture.

Afterwards, father Kevin Wilson said: “She was a fun, bright and outgoing child.

“She was a very trusting person. I don’t understand why things like this happen to people like her.”

The car she was driving that night was also found abandoned in the parking lot of a lone Fillmore grocery store.

Detectives soon learned that Puebla was one of the last people to see the cheerleader alive, and he was questioned at his family’s home on New Year’s Day.

He initially claimed Valerie dropped him off near his home before leaving, telling investigators the pair were not involved in any romantic relationship.

But his story kept changing.

Puebla later admitted that he tried to kiss Valerie, who rejected his advances, and stated that he “gave up any further attempts to initiate a romantic conversation.”

However, when she was told that her body would be subjected to a forensic examination, the girl stated that the couple had sex.

However, no evidence of sexual intercourse was found.

Meanwhile, on January 7, detectives found Valerie’s underwear, stud earrings and other personal items behind the Roman Catholic Church of St. Francis of Assisi – one block from Puebla’s home.

Following the discovery, police executed a search warrant at his family’s home as evidence began to accumulate against him.

It was during this time that investigators confiscated the jacket he was wearing that night (which was identified from a video taken at the party) and discovered that it was splattered with Valerie’s blood.

Puebla’s conflicting stories and bloody jacket were key evidence – his shoe print also matched the print found where Valerie’s body was dumped.

He was arrested and charged with murder and attempted rape, but pleaded not guilty, beginning a month-long trial.

It turned out that the aspiring football player tried to rape Valeria in a car near his house, and when she resisted, he strangled her, rendering her unconscious. Santa Paula Times.

She regained consciousness and was able to escape from the car, but her attacker caught up with her and “hit her in the head” in the church parking lot, District Attorney Greg Totten said.

He said: “Puebla took off her clothes and tried, but failed, to rape her.”

Valerie was struck several more times as she tried to defend herself before being strangled while Puebla leaned on her chest.

“This woman suffered injuries while trying to stay alive and did not just leave peacefully,” Senior Deputy District Attorney Maeve Fox told jurors at the time. “This girl died fighting for her life.”

Puebla was found guilty of first-degree murder, attempted rape and special circumstances of criminal homicide during an attempted sexual assault.

He was ultimately sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.