Arrest Made In Noelle Russo Killing, A Sonoma County Cold Case

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office announced an arrest this week in a homicide that remained unsolved for more than 40 years.

The body of 37-year-old Noelle Russo (Kinzie) was discovered June 27, 1983, when sheriff's deputies were dispatched to a report of a deceased, naked woman in an unincorporated area of Rohnert Park. She was beaten to death.

Detectives and deputies with the sheriff's Violent Crime Investigations division collected a significant amount of evidence and conducted numerous interviews as they tried to piece together the circumstances of her death, a spokesperson said.

"Detectives developed certain persons of interest over the years, but no arrests were made," Sheriff's Office Spokesperson Rob Dillion said.

Detectives continued to work on the cold case through the years. From 2010 until this year, detectives sent several items of evidence to the Santa Clara County Crime Lab and the Serological Research Institute for DNA analysis.

Based on DNA and other evidence, detectives identified one of the original persons of interest, Alfredo Carretero Jr., as a suspect in Russo's homicide.

A warrant was obtained for his arrest. Carretero — now 65 years old and living 75 miles away from Rohnert Park in Lakeport — was taken into custody Monday.

"Russo's family has been notified of the arrest and would appreciate privacy," Dillion said.

As for Carretero, he was booked into the main Sonoma County jail and was being held without bail. He was 25 years old at the time of Russo's death.

"Throughout this investigation, detectives worked closely with the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office," Dillion said. "The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office and Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office are both dedicated to justice for murder victims, whether the case is new or old. The VCI Unit continues to investigate many cold cases and relentlessly pursue justice for the victims of violent crime."

Sheriff's officials asked anyone with information related to this case or any other cold case or current violent crime to contact the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office at 707-565-2185 or submit an anonymous tip online.