Fiancé Arrested in Gruesome Murder of California Woman

A 27-year-old California woman, Rachel Elizabeth Imani Buckner, whose dismembered body was discovered wrapped in plastic along a shoreline over the summer, was allegedly killed by her fiancé, 42-year-old Joseph C. Roberts, according to authorities.

Buckner's body was found on July 20, dismembered and wrapped in plastic and duct tape, with her head, hands, and feet missing and yet to be located. The Alameda Police Department has officially ruled her death as a homicide following an autopsy.

The victim's identity was confirmed in late August through DNA evidence processing. Roberts came under suspicion after investigators discovered that he last communicated with Buckner on July 13. Moreover, he had maintained contact with at least three other women since then, according to authorities.

Additionally, Roberts was found to have used Buckner's phone and car in the weeks following her death, as revealed by Alameda Police Detective Robert Hansen.

Rachel Elizabeth Imani Buckner and Joseph C. Roberts had been in a relationship for several years and were residing together in Pleasanton. Their history involved a previous arrest in 2022 when they allegedly broke into Buckner's mother's residence and assaulted her family members.

Notably, Roberts never reported Buckner missing during the investigation. Detectives found his DNA on the tape used to wrap her body, indicating his awareness of her death, dismemberment, and his active role in concealing her remains in plastic garbage bags.

Joseph C. Roberts now faces charges of murder, circumstances in aggravation, and special allegations of great bodily injury, as per jail records.