A Lakeside man is under arrest a cold case homicide, accused of killing the woman who was about to testify against him in court when she disappeared.
San Diego County Sheriff's Deputies say Christine Crosby, 38, was found dead, in a shallow grave in Boulevard in 2011.
Now, her ex-boyfriend David Williams, 44, of Lakeside is in Central Jail charged with her murder.
Eyewitnesses last saw Christine Crosby leaving Viejas Casino near Alpine on the back of Williams' motorcycle on July 5, 2011.
She was just weeks away from testifying against him on a domestic violence complaint.
“He had threatened her life less than two weeks prior to that and tried to strangle her,” said Christine’s sister, Colleen Flemon.
The Crosby family filed a missing persons report two weeks after her disappearance. They circulated flyers all over Lakeside including in Dave Williams’ neighborhood.
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“It was very upsetting. It was really hard on my mom. We knew right away when she was missing that something happened to her, because she was in contact with my mom every day,” Flemon said.
Crosby’s body was later found just east of Mile Marker 29 on Old Highway 80 in Boulevard. Officials determined she had been strangled to death.
“She was a nice girl. She got involved with the wrong people, but she was still my sister, and we loved her,” Flemon said.
Last Saturday, Williams was arrested at his Oak Creek Drive home without incident. When NBC 7 knocked on the door of the home Monday, his daughter and nephew were there but did not want to discuss the case.
The Crosby family first heard the news from NBC7.
“I'm excited. I have been shaking the whole time since I got your phone call. I can't believe they finally got him,” Flemon said.
Crosby’s mother died last March. Her father moved to Colorado. As much as things have changed, the family's desire for justice has not.
“It would be great to think they actually found something that they could use,” Flemon said.
Lead investigator Lt. John Maryon said it took nearly three years after Crosby’s body was found to make an arrest because investigators had few leads. Witnesses were afraid Williams would retaliate, he said.
The lieutenant is hoping that with Williams behind bars, more people will come forward with what they know.
