Latest news with #UnionCity
Daily Mail
08-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Newborn is found dead wrapped in pantyhose in dumpster... and cops finally arrest suspect
Bay Area police have charged a woman with murder, marking a major breakthrough in a cold case after a newborn baby was found dead in a dumpster 16 years ago. Angela Onduto, 46, of Denver, Colorado, was arrested in May this year and charges were filed against her on July 2, according to the Union City Police Department. She is accused of killing a baby girl whose body was found in a dumpster close to Parkside Apartments in the California city on May 18, 2009. The baby still had her umbilical cord attached and she was wrapped inside a bloodied pantyhose when a horrified resident stumbled across her remains, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. It's unclear how detectives believe Onduto killed the infant. The Daily Mail has contacted Union City Police for more information. The department said in a statement: 'The newborn was lovingly named Matea Esperanza by UCPD officers - a name meaning 'Gift from God' in Hebrew and 'Hope' in Spanish. 'Matea was discovered by a man searching for recyclables. The discovery led to an extensive and challenging investigation that remained open and active for more than a decade.' Union City Police shared a mugshot of Onduto looking startled, with one eyebrow raised as she looked wide-eyed at the camera. She is also pictured on her LinkedIn profile wearing blue eyeshadow with short cropped hair. The page says she works in 'Human Services' and is looking for a job. Union City Police said detectives identified Onduto as a suspect back in 2009, but they did not have enough evidence to charge her. Modern DNA technologies led to a breakthrough this year, allowing investigators to arrest Onduto on what would have been the child's 16th birthday. 'In May 2025, UCPD detectives traveled to Denver to coordinate with local law enforcement,' Union City Police said. 'Onduto was arrested at that time; however, charges were initially withheld pending further forensic analysis and a detailed review of the medical examiner's findings.' On July 2, the Alameda County District Attorney's Office filed a murder charge against Onduto and she was detained in Denver. Onduto allegedly confessed to killing the baby shortly after she was born, according to a shocking probable cause statement obtained by the Local Bay Area News Group. Onduto is accused of murdering a baby girl whose body was found in a dumpster close to Parkside Apartments (pictured) in Union City, California, on May 18, 2009 Union City Cold Case Detective Dominic Ayala reportedly wrote in the statement: 'Angela detailed how she intentionally murdered [Matea] after giving birth at home in 2009. '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.' Union City detectives are now working to extradite Onduto to Alameda County, where she will face court proceedings. 'The UCPD expresses deep gratitude that justice is progressing in Matea's case after 16 years, reaffirming the department's commitment to solving cold cases and bringing closure to the community,' the department said. 'Matea's memory continues to resonate within Union City. 'In 2017, the Union City Police Officers Association purchased a permanent grave marker in her honor, and a memorial service is held annually by members of the department.' The investigation is ongoing, and detectives have urged anyone with additional information to contact detectives via (510) 675-5259 or use the anonymous tip line at (510) 675-5207.
CBS News
04-07-2025
- CBS News
Woman suspected in 2009 cold case killing of Bay Area newborn arrested in Colorado
More than 16 years after a newborn girl was found dead in a San Francisco Bay Area dumpster, police have announced a Colorado woman has been arrested and charged with her murder. According to the Union City Police Department, the girl was found dead at the Parkside Apartments on Decoto Road on May 18, 2009 by a man searching for recyclables. Police named the girl Matea Esperanza, a name meaning "Gift from God" in Hebrew and "Hope" in Spanish. During the lengthy investigation, detectives said they were able to develop leads with what they described as "advanced" DNA analysis of evidence collected in 2009. Police said further DNA comparison led to 46-year-old Angela Onduto of Denver, who was identified as a person of interest during the early stages of the investigation. Angela Onduto of Denver, Colorado has been charged with murder in connection with the 2009 death of a newborn who was found in a dumpster in Union City, California. Union City Police Department Last month, around when the girl would have turned 16, Union City detectives said they traveled to Denver to coordinate with local law enforcement. Police arrested Onduto but charges were withheld pending additional forensic analysis and reviewing the medical examiner's findings. After the additional investigative work, police said the Alameda County District Attorney's Office filed a murder charge against Onduto. Denver Police took Onduto into custody late Wednesday. "The UCPD expresses deep gratitude that justice is progressing in Matea's case after 16 years, reaffirming the department's commitment to solving cold cases and bringing closure to the community," police said in a statement Thursday. Onduto remains in custody in Colorado as Union City detectives work on extraditing her back to California. In 2017, the Union City Police Officers' Association purchased a permanent marker for Esperanza, who is buried at the Chapel of the Chimes in Hayward. The department holds a memorial for her each May. REMEMBERING MATEA ESPERANZA On May 18th, 2009, officers responded to the report of a baby located in a dumpster at the... Posted by Union City Police Department on Sunday, May 18, 2025 "She is a part of our UCPD family and will not be forgotten," the department said in a May 18 post on social media. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Detective Ayala of the Union City Police Department at 510-675-5259. Tips can also be given anonymously by calling 510-675-5207.
Forbes
28-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
China's Spicy Hotpot Leader Cooks Up A New Brand In The U.S.
MalaTown specializes in spicy hot pot cuisine. MalaTown Expansion by China's largest restaurant chains in recent years has been fueled by the country's tasty cuisine, economic growth and improved management. Among the biggest winners: Yang Guofu, the founder of Yang Guo Fu. The Shanghai-headquartered business serves up spicy mala hotpot at more than 6,000 franchised locations across China and another 500-plus overseas; combined, the brand's restaurants employ more than 70,000 individuals globally. The founder tested the water for an IPO in Hong Kong in 2022 but that hope collided with the Covid pandemic. A bigger push for international growth at the business is now coming from Gao Yang, a hometown classmate of the founder's son. Gao, born in mainland China but who has lived in the U.S. for the past decade and a half, believes the time is right in the American market for mala hotpot because of its healthy attributes. 'Food is universal,' Gao recently told Forbes China. 'Everyone wants something that's delicious and good for you.' A Harvard grad who took over leadership of Yang Guo Fu's U.S. business in 2023, Gao is looking to expand beyond the franchising model that has brought success date; in October that year, he debuted a new brand in Union City, California: MalaTown. Gao believes the name and quality lifestyle positioning will help extend its appeal to non-Chinese diners. 'Great food knows no borders,' he said. 'Scalable business models don't either.' So far, Gao has opened nine directly operated MalaTown U.S. locations. Founded in 2003, Yang Guo Fu illustrates how Chinese restaurant chains are moving up the rankings of franchise restaurants long dominated by Western giants such as McDonald's and KFC. Management at the Chinese eateries has improved to such an extent that larger ones are now able to attract graduates from top global business schools, Gao said approvingly. MalaTown's mala-style hotpot, also known in Chinese as 'mala-tang,' differs from other Chinese hotpot flavors because of its unusually strong taste: the word 'mala' loosely translates into 'numb and hot.' Diners draw servings from a big, soupy pot holding spices such as chili and peppercorn, and can select from ingredients that include beef, tofu, bamboo shoots, ham, Chinese cabbage and shitake mushroom. Ambitious Gao came to the U.S. from China to attend high school at age 16. In 2015 at age 20, he founded Regulus, which provided high-end lifestyle services to more than 1,000 overseas Chinese customers across the U.S. Gao later earned a master's degree in finance from Harvard University. Returning to China after graduation, Gao joined e-commerce giant Alibaba as a senior specialist in customer operations, getting exposure to world-class strategic planning, entrepreneurship, business development and operational management. By 2023, he was ready to step up as Yang Guo Fu's CEO in North America. Yang Guo Fu had earlier debuted in that market with a franchise-led model, primarily targeting the Chinese diaspora and catering to its tastes. Gao has already lifted the number of restaurants operating under the parent brand's name to 30 from only three when he first joined. He attributes that growth in part to the 'Matthew effect' – in which 'success compounds and attracts more success.' Gao, however, has bigger goals and sees an even larger opportunity to bring the Chinese spicy hotpot concept to a wider group of North American consumers -- not just the Chinese community. Unlike the parent company's franchise approach, MalaTown has at least for now been directly operated by Gao. 'It's easy to open a store — it's much harder to keep it running well,' Gao said. 'Getting to the top of the mountain is one thing, but staying there takes much more.' The U.S. stores in markets like Cupertino, California have both Chinese and English details on the wall with a focus in messaging on health, helping mala-tang resonate with non-Chinese speakers, he said. It seems to be working: As of 2024, more than 70% of MalaTown's customers aren't ethnic Chinese, a share that's still on the rise, Gao said. Tight management standards will be critical to future growth, he said. 'That means improving operational efficiency, strengthening management systems, and keeping tighter control of costs,' Gao explained. 'It's about building a solid foundation — refining the structure and processes to support the next stage of scaling.' To that end, the company operates a proprietary mobile app and point of sales system to enhance customer experience and streamline operations online. MalaTown is deepening its own supply chain through the purchase of a central kitchen and plans to begin selling frozen and dry goods. The results have been good financially, Gao said. Each MalaTown store has been profitable so far, and even with centralized operational costs factored in, the parent company remains in the black; the new brand's revenue was $20 million in 2024, he said. MalaTown CEO Gao Yang. MalaTown Looking ahead, Gao believes the company's internal systems — from IT to logistics — may one day be made available to other restaurant chains. 'This could not only become a new source of revenue,' he noted, 'but also lay the tech foundation for a future franchising model.' Asked about his outlook for the future, Gao said: 'Painful, but joyful — and full of promise.' Above all, he believes, MalaTown has to be about more than just selling a bowl of mala-tang.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Organizations come together to put food on families' tables as school lets out for the summer
When Barbara Pickett pulled up to the front of Gullatt Elementary School in Union City Wednesday, her car was filled with hope. She needed it. 'It's hard during the summer, because the kids still need the food,' Barbara said. So many parents and grandparents whose little ones attend the school can have a hard time putting enough food on the table over the next few months. 'Many children come to school and sometimes it's the only meal they get. So as school breaks for the summer, it's a great time to provide,' Amazon's Sandy Gordon said. Amazon and the hunger relief organization, Goodr, teamed up to make it happen. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] They gave away enough groceries for the families of 125 students. Five dozen volunteers packed it up and packed it in cars at the drive-thru event. Koaleshia Simon says times are hard and groceries prices are high, so she appreciated the help. 'We all are working two jobs and we're barely making ends meet. I think it's a great idea. We all need help. It takes a village,' Koaleshia said. Barbara Pickett says it'll makes things a little bit easier this summer. 'Oh my gosh. It's extremely important for not just the kids, but the whole community,' Barbara said. TRENDING STORIES: GBI says teen brothers died of self-inflicted injuries on north GA mountain Facebook Marketplace car theft ring ends in dozens of charges for 2 women, Gwinnett police say Severe weather leaves behind multiple reports of damage [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Multi-car crash expected to close roads for hours: Union City police
UNION CITY, Calif. - A multi-car crash was reported in Union City Friday night, and authorities are asking the public to avoid the area as they expect the roads to be shut down for the next few hours. The collision occurred on Mission Boulevard and Whipple Road, and officials sent a notice out at about 9:55 p.m. Union City police officers are investigating the collision. What we don't know Officials didn't say how many cars were involved in the accident but said there were multiple. It's unclear if there are any injuries, and if so, to what extent. It's also unclear how many victims were involved in the collision. This story is developing. Check back for updates.
