Police nab key suspect in connection with Gilroy resident Franca
Barsi’s death
Gilroy – The body of a 38-year-old woman was discovered early Wednesday morning at her home on Westwood Drive, roughly 12 hours after a family member first reported her missing.
David Vincent Reyes was arrested Thursday morning after a prolonged pursuit on Highway 101. The chase began in San Jose, as Reyes traveled south in the Plymouth Voyager, past Morgan Hill. Reyes then turned north again, with California Highway Patrol officers, San Jose Police officers and Gilroy Police officers following. He was arrested before 9am Thursday.
Police are calling Franca Barsi’s death a homicide and had been searching for Reyes, whom they initially called a “person of interest.” Police originally thought Reyes could provide leads on the case. Reyes is on the Gilroy Police Department’s most wanted list based on charges of armed robbery and failing to register as a sex offender. On Thursday police believed him to be a suspect in Barsi’s murder, Gilroy Police Sgt. Kurt Svardal said.
“We absolutely believe it’s a homicide,” he said. “The condition of the scene itself indicates that it is a homicide. We don’t want to go into any other details at this time.”
Police knocked on Barsi’s door at 8155 Westwood Drive Tuesday night, shortly after 10:15pm, when a family member reported her missing. Barsi’s car was nowhere to be seen and police could not locate her. Officers discovered Barsi’s body only after returning to her home early Wednesday morning, after her family called a second time.
The two-story complex where Barsi lived was still cordoned off Wednesday evening as residents returned home from work. A detective and patrol officer stood guard by the door of her condominium as crime scene investigators gathered evidence. Police would not describe how Barsi was killed or where her body was found.
The GPD’s crime scene investigators focus on a stabbing at a Kern Avenue apartment complex Tuesday night prompted the department to request help from crime experts at the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.
A county investigator who was still investigating the case at 6pm Wednesday declined to comment. The Santa Clara County Coroner’s Office had not yet arrived at the scene, but is expected to release the cause of death when it is determined.
Barsi’s mother retired in December from Nob Hill Foods after 20-plus years at the store, a few blocks east of her daughter’s home. Many employees had heard the news of her daughter’s death by Wednesday afternoon, but most declined to comment.
“I was shocked,” said one co-worker who asked not to be named. “It was heartbreaking, especially when there are so few details. Everyone knew (Barsi’s mother) Mara and loved her.”
Svardal called Barsi and Reyes “acquaintances” but refused to elaborate on their relationship or provide any other details about his relation to the case.
Reyes, 39. is described as 6-feet tall, 225 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. He has several tattoos, including “Norteño 14” on his back and a Raiders emblem on his left arm. Police consider him armed and dangerous.
Reyes may be driving Barsi’s 2002 red Honda Civic 4-door, California license plate 4XOG879; Reyes also may be driving a ’70s era white or light-yellow Plymouth Voyager van with woodgrain side panels.
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106 ext. 202 or at md****@mo*************.com.
Serdar Tumgoren, Senior Staff Writer, covers City Hall for The Dispatch. Reach him at 847-7109 or st*******@gi************.com.
