After 32 years of injustice, law enforcement finally arrested two suspects in the brutal murder of Zachary Jackson, a father whose life was cut short in what appears to be a calculated killing involving the mother of his own children.
Story Highlights
- Zachary Jackson, 30, was shot to death in his Hayward home on June 14, 1993, in what authorities now believe was a premeditated murder.
- Veronica Fonseca, mother of Jackson’s two children, and her 1993 boyfriend, Anthony Fox, were arrested on murder charges.
- Detective Pat Smyth believes Fox pulled the trigger while both suspects were present during the killing.
- Multiple anonymous tipsters came forward in 2014 and 2021, providing crucial information that eventually led to the arrests.
Cold Case Breakthrough After Three Decades
Alameda County Sheriff’s Detective Pat Smyth announced the arrests of Veronica Fonseca and Anthony Fox, bringing closure to a case that had haunted investigators for over three decades.
Jackson’s body was discovered on June 17, 1993, in his Hayward residence, approximately 30 miles from San Francisco. Authorities determined Jackson was killed around June 14, shot to death in what investigators now believe was a deliberate act of violence.
In June of 1993, Zachary Jackson, 30, was found shot to death in his Alameda County home. No arrests were made and the case went cold. Then, 32 years later, two people were arrested including the mother of Jackson's two children.
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Family Custody Dispute May Have Sparked Violence
The complex family dynamics surrounding Jackson’s murder reveal a troubling custody arrangement that may have provided motive for the killing.
Jackson shared two children with Fonseca: a 4-year-old daughter who lived in his custody and a 1-year-old son who remained with Fonseca. This divided custody situation created ongoing contact between Jackson and Fonseca, potentially setting the stage for the fatal confrontation that would claim Jackson’s life.
Investigation Initially Misdirected by False Leads
The original 1993 investigation focused incorrectly on a landlord dispute, while the actual perpetrators evaded scrutiny.
Fonseca underwent multiple interviews during the initial probe, but investigators found no evidence linking her to the crime at that time. Fox escaped questioning entirely, benefiting from the misdirected focus on Jackson’s property conflicts.
The limited forensic technology of the early 1990s hampered investigators, who lacked modern electronic tracking capabilities and relied primarily on witness testimony and basic fingerprint analysis.
Anonymous Tips Revived Stalled Investigation
The case gained new momentum when a 2014 tipster identified both Fonseca and Fox as responsible parties, though investigators encountered unspecified roadblocks that stalled progress.
A second anonymous tip submitted through the sheriff’s department website in 2021 again named the same suspects, providing investigators with consistent information from independent sources. Despite interviewing the 2021 tipster, Detective Smyth acknowledged facing continued impediments that prevented immediate action on the case.
Modern Resources Enable Justice for Murder Victim
The 2025 breakthrough came when investigators developed a comprehensive plan leveraging contemporary investigative resources unavailable during the original probe.
Additional witnesses cooperated with authorities over recent months, corroborating the earlier tipster accounts with similar narratives about the 1993 murder.
Fonseca was apprehended in New York City, while Fox was arrested in Iowa, both facing charges of murder and first-degree residential burglary. Detective Smyth praised the outcome as demonstrating that citizen courage, combined with dedicated law enforcement resources, can achieve justice even decades after violent crimes.
