San Jose Police Department officials have announced the arrest of two San Jose women in connection with a fatal stabbing that occurred in August. Veronica Rangel, 55, and Alexia Nieves Solache, 22, both San Jose residents, were taken into custody on suspicion of murder. Authorities allege that following the stabbing, the women hid the victim's body in a ravine located in unincorporated Alameda County, where a motorist later made the discovery, as SFist reported.
The deceased man was found on August 25 along a rural road near Livermore. A subsequent autopsy conducted by medical examiners revealed the victim had sustained multiple stab wounds, prompting law enforcement to open a homicide investigation. The identity of the man has not yet been released publicly, as authorities are awaiting the coroner's ability to notify his next of kin. This ongoing investigation has spanned across county lines, linking a San Jose crime scene to the remote discovery location.
During the extensive investigation, authorities focused on a suspicious vehicle. This vehicle's movements were tracked, showing it traveled from the victim's San Jose home directly to the site in Alameda County where his body was eventually located. The San Jose Sheriff's Office quickly determined that the stabbing itself took place at the victim's apartment complex, situated on North Seventh Street in San Jose. This location is approximately 40 miles distant from where the body was ultimately discovered. Investigators also developed suspicions early in the case that the victim was likely killed by someone he knew, pointing towards a more localized aspect of the crime.
The culmination of the investigation led to the arrests of Rangel and Solache. Both individuals were booked into Santa Clara County's Main Jail earlier this week. Public records, as reported by The Mercury News, indicate a clear connection between one of the suspects and the crime scene. Rangel was reportedly living at the same apartment complex on North Seventh Street where the victim was killed. Furthermore, public records show that Rangel and Solache share family ties, establishing a relationship between the two arrested women.
The arrests were made through a coordinated effort across different jurisdictions. On Tuesday, Los Angeles authorities apprehended Veronica Rangel at her home in Lawndale. On the very same day, San Jose police arrested Alexia Nieves Solache within San Jose. Both now face serious charges in connection with the man's death.
This incident marks the 24th homicide investigated by San Jose police this year. For comparison, at the identical point in the previous year, San Jose police had recorded a total of 23 homicides. This statistic highlights the consistent nature of such investigations within the city over recent periods.
