By: Liz Gonzalez

Fresno, CA- Fresno Police officers say years of persistence have paid off as they believe, they have solved a 30-year-old murder case.

Police Chief Jerry Dyer says 59-year-old Fernando Caro Junior kidnapped, raped and murdered Victoria De Santiago.

Victoria, who was eight years old at the time, and her then-three-year-old sister disappeared as they walked home from a convenience store at Belmont and First Street in Central Fresno on February 3, 1979.

Dyer says Caro released the younger sister, but held onto Victoria for three days.

Her naked body was found in an irrigation canal near the intersection of Leonard and Ashlan, east of Fresno.

Officers in the case recovered evidence at the time they believed crucial; this would later prove to be instrumental in determining a suspect.

A first sample was submitted for DNA testing in February of 1989. A second batch was sent in February of 2001.

Detective Carlos Leal was assigned the case, and submitted the third and final sample to the Department of Justice lab in September of 2008.

He was notified of possible hit January 13, 2009.

Caro was already serving time in San Quentin State Prison for the murders of Mark Hatcher and  Mary Booher. The two cousins were murdered in Fowler in August of 1980. He was initially sentenced to die for the crime, but the death sentence was overturned on appeal.

Officers traveled to San Quentin to obtain a swab sample from Caro. The suspect invoked his rights and refused to make a statement.

They learned a positive DNA match was made the following month.

It took officers seven months to go public with the break in the case.

Dyer says his detectives had to do extensive research into the case, interviewing witnesses and even officers who originally worked on the case.

"We've been talking with them over the last couple of months. We wanted to feel comfortable enough to move forward with the case and hand it to the District Attorney's office," Dyer said.

Victoria's family says they never lost hope

"I'm happy. I cannot express how grateful our family is," said Angelina DeSantiago, Victoria's mother. "We always just lived with the hope that someday someone would come forward and say something."

Leal says that DeSantiago was a victim of random violence, "I believe it was a crime of opportunity, he saw a chance and he took it."

Detectives believe Caro is also responsible for two other murders, dating back to March of 1980 in the Bakersfield area. They plan to have Fresno County Prosecutors combine their case with their Kern County counterparts, to strengthen the push for capital punishment.

Overall, officers say Caro has been convicted or at least a prime suspect in at least 5 homicides of children.

Dyer said he had mixed feelings at Tuesday's news conference. "I feel elated over the outcome, but there are many heartfelt emotions. Some justice needs to be brought to the victims.

Detectives say there are approximately 300 cold cases in Fresno County.

Stay with KMPH and KMPH.com as we continue to follow this story.