The Murders of Blanca Sanchez-Ayala and Cinthia Estoban (UNSOLVED)

This is the third and final article in the series of crimes involving the four transgender women murdered in California in 1990. This article profiles the murders of two friends, Blanca Sanchez-Ayala, 25 and Cinthia Estoban. Pictured below from left to right: Blanca Sanchez-Ayala, Cinthia Estoban.

On June 12, 1990 both women were murdered by a single gunshot wound to the head. The first victim out of the two to be found was Blanca Sanchez-Ayala. Originally from Tijuana, Mexico, Blanca was a burlesque dancer known in California, USA for her work at The Pastime Club. The club has since long been closed. Customers of the club told the Times Advocate (predecessor of North County Times) that everyone knew Blanca was transsexual and that she escorted. She was also a pickpocket; leading some patrons at the club to believe that she "picked the wrong pocket" or ran into a client who didn't know that she was transgender. These claims can't be substantiated.

Blanca was last seen clinging to life, unknown then by a park ranger, who saw the victim stumbling along State Route 78 at around ten p.m. He didn't think much of Ayala, other than that she must have been dazed and confused. He continued on to work, not checking on her until four hours later, most likely on his break. He found the victim slumped over on the side of San Pasqual Valley Road, still breathing. Blanca was transported to Palomar Medical Center, where she later died.

Her last night alive was pieced together by friends but doesn't explain her murder. Blanca's last night alive is as follows: she was last seen by friends on 21st and Market Street in San Diego (the street where just one week earlier a man was killed with another transsexual injured after a shooting occurred there). Ayala went to go buy sandwiches from a local supermarket, after borrowing twenty dollars from a friend. Shortly thereafter she must have been shot, as just minutes later she was seen by the park ranger.

At around seven a.m. the following day, the second victim, Cinthia Estoban was found fifty yards away from where Ayala's body was discovered. Cinthia was fully clothed; wearing a white skirt, white sandals, and a black one-piece bathing suit. She, like Blanca also died from a single gunshot wound to the head. Not much was known about Estoban, other than that she was new to the Escondido, California area.