Suspect Jailed In 2008 Slaying Of Disabled Oceanside Veteran

OCEANSIDE, CA — Authorities announced an arrest Thursday in connection with the slaying of a disabled military veteran found dead in his Oceanside home nearly 16 years ago.

Jeffrey Roberson, 59, was taken into custody in Spring Valley on Wednesday for allegedly murdering 51-year-old Cecil Zachary Jr., according to the Oceanside Police Department.

Cold-case investigators linked Roberson to the slaying through DNA evidence, OPD Detective Sergeant Dave Estrada said.

On the afternoon of June 19, 2008, the bedridden victim's lifeless body was discovered at his residence in the 1500 block of Molly Circle in the Fire Mountain neighborhood north of state Route 78, west of El Camino Real. An autopsy determined that he had died of blunt-force trauma.

Police have released no suspected motive for the alleged murder nor disclosed the nature of the relationship, if any, between Roberson and Zachary.

"This arrest is the result of years of dedicated investigative work and advancements in forensic technology," Estrada said.

Zachary had been paralyzed from the waist down since his early 20s due to injuries he suffered in a traffic accident, according to news reports from the time of his death.

Roberson was being held without bail at San Diego Central Jail pending arraignment, scheduled for Friday afternoon.

— City News Service