San Diego Murder Case From 1990 Solved After Decades, Suspect Sentenced

Margaret Orosco Jackson was found dead in San Diego in 1990 after a passerby discovered her body on a hillside. The case remained unsolved for over 30 years until a breakthrough in 2018, when Randall Oyler's DNA matched evidence collected from Jackson's body. Oyler, 65, was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison in California.

Jackson, 47 at the time of her death, was found strangled with a rope near the scene. The investigation began on July 11, 1990, after a woman noticed a rope by the roadside and followed it down the hill to find Jackson's body. Despite extensive efforts, no suspect was identified until Oyler's DNA entered the national database following a drug trafficking conviction.

During the trial, prosecutors detailed that Jackson suffered severe head injuries and was strangled for five to six minutes until death. On May 19, 2026, Oyler was found guilty of first-degree murder. Jackson's niece confronted Oyler in court, asking if he felt remorse and urging him to reflect on his actions during his sentence. The conviction brought closure to Jackson's family, though it could not restore the decades lost since the crime.