Stephanie Fagundes, 25, of Stockton, was last known to her family in October 2022 and was reported missing when contact was lost. She left behind a young daughter and was remembered by relatives as loving, funny and compassionate. Family members said her disappearance was devastating and prolonged by months without answers.

The case took a turn on November 18, 2022, when a Stanislaus County Sheriff’s SWAT team serving an unrelated arrest warrant at a Modesto home learned human remains might be on the property. Detectives obtained a search warrant and found partial remains that were later described as dismembered and burned. An anthropology team from California State University, Chico assisted with collection and examination, and DNA confirmed the remains were Stephanie’s. The sheriff’s office treated the discovery as a homicide.

Albert Jr. Gonzales, 41, of Modesto, was charged with murder in connection with Stephanie’s death; he was already in custody on separate assault-related allegations. Court filings say Gonzales pleaded not guilty and denial pleas were entered to multiple charges, including assault with a machine gun, weapons-related counts, possession of destructive devices and inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant. The trial has been repeatedly delayed and is scheduled for October 2026.

If anyone knew Stephanie, saw her in October 2022, or has information about the Modesto property, please come forward with what can help investigators.