Man arrested in 25-year-old murder case

A Brisbane man was arrested Monday in connection with a 25-year-old murder, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies arrested Gabriel O’Neil, 45, on suspicion of murder in the 1989 death of 27-year-old Sheila Lorraine Hatcher, according to Deputy Rebecca Rosenblatt.

Hatcher’s body was found March 12, 1989 by two hikers in a ravine on San Bruno Mountain in unincorporated north San Mateo County. Investigators said she had been sexually assaulted and suffered a blunt force trauma to her body.

At the time, investigators were unable to find sufficient evidence to identify a suspect, but in 2013, Hatcher’s family requested the case be reopened by the sheriff’s office, Rosenblatt said.

Sheriff’s office investigators worked with the San Mateo County Forensic Laboratory and the San Mateo County coroner’s office and reexamined reports, case files, photographs and physical evidence.

Investigators said one of the items resubmitted to the forensic lab yielded evidence that linked O’Neil to the homicide.

O’Neil was taken into custody Monday as he was driving in the 3000 block of Bayshore Boulevard in Brisbane. He was booked into the Maguire Correctional Facility in Redwood City and is being held without bail.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Det. Andy Armando at (650) 363-4347 or Det. Jon Sebring at (650) 363-4057. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous can call 1-800-547-2700.