Victim identified as 27-year-old Rachel Buckner of Pleasanton
On July 20, 2023, a call to the Alameda Police Department (APD) sent investigators to the shoreline near the Bay Farm Island Bridge. The remains of a human were found concealed in a bag, prompting the response of both the Alameda Police and the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office Coroner’s Bureau.
Following a preliminary autopsy, authorities concluded that the death was a result of homicide. However, due to limited available identifying information, the victim’s identity remained unknown. Subsequently, the APD Investigations Unit assumed control of the case and initiated efforts to determine the victim’s identity. This included an extensive search of the Missing and Unidentified Persons (MUPS) Database and collaboration with other law enforcement agencies.
A breakthrough occurred on August 30, 2023, when DNA evidence definitively identified the victim as 27-year-old Rachel Elizabeth Imani Buckner from Pleasanton. In addition to this identification, additional evidence allowed detectives to identify a primary suspect. As a result, on Wednesday, September 6, 2023, the United States Marshals Service arrested a 42-year-old man, also a Pleasanton resident, with the assistance of APD and the Pleasanton Police Department.
Since the initial discovery in July, the Alameda Police Department has worked diligently to uncover the facts surrounding this case. Their work included collaborating with several law enforcement agencies, including Alameda County’s Search and Rescue Team, Alameda County Crime Lab, and the Contra Costa County Crime Lab.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ms. Buckner’s death will continue as a joint effort of the APD and the Pleasanton Police Department, with support from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Throughout this difficult period, the Alameda Police Department has maintained communication with the Buckner family, and requests that the community continue to respect their privacy during this trying time.
If anyone has any information that may further assist in the investigation into Rachel Buckner’s death, please contact the Alameda Police Department at 510-337-8402.
