Angela Beth Onduto evaded justice for nearly two decades after allegedly drowning her newborn baby and discarding the infant's body in a Southern California dumpster. The 47-year-old was finally tracked down through cutting-edge DNA technology and an unlikely piece of evidence—a discarded Costco receipt—before pleading no contest to voluntary manslaughter.
Background
The case began in May 2009, when a man searching for recyclables at an apartment complex in Union City—approximately 30 miles south of San Francisco—discovered the body of a newborn baby girl inside a dumpster. Union City Police Department detectives responded to the scene and launched an investigation into the infant's death.
During their initial inquiry, investigators interviewed residents at the complex and identified Onduto, then a physical therapist in her 30s, as a possible person of interest. However, without sufficient evidence to pursue formal charges, the case went cold for years, leaving detectives with few leads to follow.
The Investigation
The breakthrough finally came last year when investigators applied new DNA technology that confirmed Onduto was a parental match to the infant found in 2009. Police also recovered a Costco receipt from the dumpster that linked her to the scene—evidence that would prove crucial in building their case.
After identifying Onduto as the mother, detectives arrested her and extradited her to Alameda County to face charges. Court records indicate she was initially charged with murder, though the specific charge was later reduced. In April, Onduto pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter, accepting punishment without admitting guilt.
During court proceedings, Onduto's defense attorneys provided details about the alleged circumstances of the birth. They argued that Onduto "labored for hours overnight and gave birth alone in her bathtub, then drowned the baby almost immediately post-partum." Prosecutors disputed this characterization, with detectives noting in charging documents that Onduto "expressed no remorse" for her actions.
Despite the severity of the allegations, Onduto received a sentence of just six years in state prison last week. Court records show she has already accumulated credit for one year served plus 54 days for good conduct. She is currently being held at Santa Rita Jail.
A county judge also revoked Onduto's license to practice physical therapy following her arrest. The infant was named Matea Esperanza by police and buried at Chapel of the Chimes cemetery in Oakland, with investigators covering the burial costs. Authorities have never publicly identified the baby's father.
Key Takeaways
- Angela Beth Onduto allegedly drowned her newborn baby and discarded the body in a Union City dumpster in May 2009
- Investigators tracked her down 17 years later using DNA technology and a discarded Costco receipt as evidence
- Onduto pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to six years in state prison
- She had been identified as a person of interest in 2009 but lacked sufficient evidence for charges at that time
- Police named the infant Matea Esperanza; her father has never been publicly identified
What's Next
Onduto will serve the remainder of her six-year sentence at Santa Rita Jail, where she is currently held. With credit for time served and good conduct, her actual release date will depend on California Department of Corrections calculations. The case remains closed from a prosecutorial standpoint, though advocacy groups have pointed to the relatively light sentence as a subject of ongoing public debate regarding penalties in infant death cases.