Fresno County cold case from 1993 gets new leads

Authorities identify victim as Janet Fay Moore and seek public's help to solve the 30-year-old mystery

Jan. 29, 2026 at 1:15am

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More than 30 years after the body of a woman was found near Cantua Creek in Fresno County, California, authorities have identified the victim as Janet Fay Moore and are asking the public for help in solving the cold case. Moore was found dead on July 12, 1993, wearing distinctive clothing, and the circumstances of her death remain unknown.

Why it matters

This case has remained unsolved for over three decades, and the identification of the victim provides an opportunity to potentially uncover new leads and bring closure to Moore's family. Cold cases like this one are notoriously difficult to crack, but advances in forensic technology and the passage of time can sometimes reveal new information that helps investigators make progress.

The details

On July 12, 1993, the body of a woman was found near Cantua Creek, off Interstate-5 and Kamm Avenue in Fresno County. At the time, deputies described the victim as wearing a California Hollywood Rat Race T-Shirt, jean shorts, a white cross necklace, and a ring with a photograph of a young boy around three to four years old. In December 2025, the Cold Case Unit was able to identify the victim as Janet Fay Moore, a 40-year-old woman who was born in Nevada but had lived in the Sacramento area from 1971 through 1993.

  • On Monday, July 12, 1993, Janet Fay Moore's body was found near Cantua Creek.
  • In December 2025, the Cold Case Unit uncovered Moore's identity and some of her history.

The players

Janet Fay Moore

A 40-year-old woman who was found dead near Cantua Creek in Fresno County, California in 1993. She was born in Nevada but lived in the Sacramento area from 1971 through 1993.

Sergio Toscano

A Cold Case Detective with the Fresno County Sheriff's Office who is investigating the case and asking the public for information.

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What they’re saying

“Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Cold Case Detective Sergio Toscano at 559-600-8027 or sergio.toscano@fresnosheriff.org and reference case #93-18564.”

— Sergio Toscano, Cold Case Detective

The takeaway

This cold case from 1993 highlights the challenges law enforcement faces in solving older crimes, but also the potential for new leads to emerge decades later. The identification of the victim, Janet Fay Moore, provides an opportunity for the public to come forward with any information that could help investigators finally uncover what happened and bring closure to her family.