Cannie Bullock

The Murder of Cannie Bullock

Cannie Bullock via SF Gate

The Victim

Cannie Bullock was 8 years old on August 24, 1979, when she went missing from her home in San Pablo, CA. Early in the morning of August 25th, police found her in the backyard, covered by a blue-floral blanket, and murdered. It would take 23 years for the police to make an arrest when a DNA sample from the crime scene matched to Joseph Cordova Jr. in Colorado. In 2007, Cordova received the death penalty. In 2015, Cordova was found deceased in his jail cell and is believed to have died because of Covid-19.

Satellite pic of Bullock Home via Google Maps

The Crime Scene

Cannie Bullock lived with her mother, and a friend, on Dover Ave in San Pablo. They lived in a 2 bedroom "garage" in the backyard of the home.

Map from Bullock home to 23rd Street via Google Maps

Tulare Advance Register, August 8, 1996 via newspapers.com

William Flores of San Pablo, CA was the main suspect in Cannie Bullock's case for many years. Eventually, his DNA would be tested as a possible match against DNA found at the scene. It would not match. Despite not having murdered, or hurting Cannie in any way, in 1983, Flores committed suicide.

Joseph Cordova Jr. in 1996/97 via SF Gate

Joseph Cordova Jr. at trial via East Bay Times

Works Cited

Lee, Henry K. (2007, May 11). "Death Sentence for 1979 Murder of San Pablo Girl." The San Francisco Chronicle, via https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Death-sentence-for-1979-murder-of-San-Pablo-girl-2561012.php#photo-2188238

Bay City News Service. (2015, Oct 26). "California Supreme Court Upholds Death Penalty in 1979 Murder of San Pablo Girl." East Bay Times, via https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2015/10/26/california-supreme-court-upholds-death-penalty-in-1979-murder-of-san-pablo-girl/

"Police try to solve 17-year old murder." (1996, Aug 8). The Californian, pg. 18, via newspapers.com.

"Old Slaying." (1996, Aug 8). The Press Democrat, pg. 15, via newspapers.com.

"In Brief: Police use DNA to Solve Mystery." (1996, Aug 8). Tulare Advance-Register, pg. 11, via newspapers.com.

"San Pablo police hunt strangler of 8 year old girl." (1979, Aug 27). The San Francisco Examiner, pg. 38, via newspapers.com.

Petherick, Wayne, Brent Turvey, Claire Ferguson. (August 17, 2009). Forensic Criminology, https://www.elsevier.com.

"Young girl is murdered." (1979, Aug 26). The Berkeley Gazette, pg. 4, via newspapers.com.

"Contra Costa County Child Killer Joseph Cordova Found Dead in San Quentin Death Row Cell." (2020, July 2). CBS SF Bay Area, https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2020/07/02/condemned-contra-costa-killer-joseph-cordova-found-dead-in-san-quentin-cell/

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. (2020, July 1). Condemned Inmate Joseph Safarino Cordova Dies [Press Release]. https://www.cdcr.ca.gov.

Gertsman, Bruce. (2016, Aug 17). "Jury selection begins in trial for alleged rape, killing in 1979). East Bay Times, https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2006/12/15/jury-selection-begins-in-trial-for-alleged-rape-killing-in-1979/

"CA death row inmate dies in San Quentin, as coronavirus spikes." (2020, July 1). East Bay Times, https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2020/07/01/convict-in-east-bay-child-rape-murder-dies-on-san-quentin-death-row/

"Jury votes death for killer of 8-year old." (2007, Feb 17). Los Angeles Times, https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-feb-17-me-molester17-story.html

Bay City News Service. (2015, Oct 26). "California Supreme Court upholds death penalty in 1979 murder of San Pablo girl." East Bay Times, https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2015/10/26/california-supreme-court-upholds-death-penalty-in-1979-murder-of-san-pablo-girl/#:~:text=SAN%20FRANCISCO%20%E2%80%94%20The%20murder%20conviction,Supreme%20Court%20in%20San%20Francisco.

"Jury votes death for killer of 8-year-old." (2007, Feb 17). The Los Angeles Times, pg. 15, via newspapers.com.

"DNA Evidence Leads to Suspect in 1979 slaying." (2002, Dec 5). Visalia Times-Delta, pg. 16, via newspapers.com.

"DNA Implicates Convict." (2002, Dec 5). The Fresno Bee, pg. B3, via newspapers.com.

Hallissy, Erin. (2002, Dec 15). "DNA databank helps solve old crimes." The Fresno Bee, B5, via newspapers.com.