Chapter 1: The Disappearance of Dawn Sanchez

On August 30, 1991, Dawn Sanchez left the Four Seasons Motel in Los Altos, California, where she had been residing. Alongside her were Bernardo Bass and a male acquaintance known only as 'Chopsticks.' They drove to a vacant lot near a local softball park. After spending some time together, a conflict arose between Dawn and Bernardo, prompting them to quickly return to his Pontiac Grand Prix.

According to 'Chopsticks,' after traveling about 100 yards, the vehicle came to a halt. He then heard a scream followed by the sound of a gunshot before the car accelerated away.

Dawn was never seen again, and her disappearance wasn't reported until early October. There are conflicting accounts regarding her relationship with Bernardo; some claim he was her boyfriend, while others suggest he was a client. Friends of Dawn alleged that Bernardo was infatuated with her, but she did not reciprocate his feelings. His jealousy escalated when she interacted with other men, leading to troubling behavior such as breaking into her home and harassing her contacts.

The testimonies from Dawn's friends and 'Chopsticks' positioned Bernardo as the primary suspect. Although he was charged in 1992, the case collapsed due to insufficient physical evidence. The absence of a body, a murder weapon, or concrete proof led to his release.

In a significant development, the case was reopened in 2007 after an informant revealed that Bernardo had admitted to dismantling his 1979 Pontiac Grand Prix, which contained evidence of Dawn's blood, and burying the pieces in a vast abandoned lot in Alviso, San Jose.

Another key piece of evidence came to light when, in 1992, Bernardo's sister told authorities she had sold his car as he requested. However, in 2008, she confessed her initial statement was a lie out of fear of her brother.

With this new information, investigators obtained search warrants and scoured Bernardo's small