05-07-2025
Murder charge filed 16 years after newborn was found dead in Bay Area dumpster
A Colorado woman has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with the death of a newborn girl found abandoned in a Union City dumpster 16 years ago, police announced this week.
The infant was discovered on May 18, 2009, behind the Parkside Apartments by a man searching for recyclables.
The baby still had her umbilical cord attached and was found among bloodied pantyhose and a Costco receipt. Officers named her Matea Esperanza — a name meaning 'Gift from God' in Hebrew and 'Hope' in Spanish.
'This case touched so many people in our department,' Detective Steven Mendez said at the time. 'We were flabbergasted. There is a fire station a few blocks away where the baby could have been safely surrendered. Our station is half a mile away. It's tragic all the way around.'
For years, the case remained unsolved. But with recent advances in DNA technology, Union City detectives were able to reanalyze evidence collected in 2009, ultimately identifying Angela Onduto, 46, of Denver as a suspect.
Police said the suspect, also known as Angela Anderson, had previously been considered a person of interest early in the investigation.
In May, around what would have been Matea's 16th birthday, detectives traveled to Denver and, in coordination with local law enforcement, arrested Onduto.
In a probable cause statement obtained by the Bay Area News Group, Union City Detective Dominic Ayala wrote that Onduto admitted to killing the baby. An autoposy revealed the cause of death was drowning.
'Angela detailed how she intentionally murdered (Matea) after giving birth at home in 2009,' Ayala wrote. 'Angela expressed no remorse, and said she knew while pregnant she had no intention of keeping the baby. She admitted to discarding Baby Jane Doe in the dumpster. She denied diagnosis with any psychiatric conditions and/or drug use at the time of the incident.'
Although Onduto was initially taken into custody, charges were withheld pending further forensic analysis and a detailed review of the coroner's findings.
This week, after that review, the Alameda County District Attorney's Office formally filed a murder charge under California Penal Code 187.
Onduto was rearrested by Denver police Wednesday and awaits extradition to California.
In 2017, the Union City Police Officers Association purchased a permanent grave marker for her at Chapel of the Chimes in Hayward.
