Fiancé arrested after law student is found dismembered on shoreline

13 September 2023 , 00:47

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Police said the remains of Rachel Bucker were found in a 'disturbing case'

A man has been charged with brutally killing his fiance after her body, which washed up on the shoreline in California, was finally identified.

The body of Rachel Elizabeth Imani Buckner, a 27-year-old law student from the Bay Area, was located at the Bay Farm Island Bridge on July 20. The remains were found dismembered and wrapped in a cover made up of duct tape and plastic. Reports say Buckner's hands, feet, and head were not located.

Alameda Police Chief Nishant Joshi said it was a "disturbing case." He said last week that a motive for the killing had not yet been established and it is not clear when Buckner was killed. A joint investigation by Pleasanton Police and the FBI is expected to continue.

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Rachel Bucker

Joseph C. Roberts

Joseph C. Roberts, 42, has been charged with her murder, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office confirmed. He was charged with first-degree murder and is being held without bail ahead of his first court appearance on Friday. KRON4 reported that Buckner and Roberts "had been dating" and "they might have even been engaged."

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A search warrant on Roberts's phone records showed he last communicated with Buckner on July 13 and investigators said he had been in contact with at least three other women. Detective Robert Hansen said Roberts had the victim's phone in his car.

"Joseph [Roberts] never reported the victim missing at any point during this investigation. Joseph's DNA was on the tape that wrapped her body, which meant he was aware she was dead, he was aware she was dismembered, and he took an active role in wrapping her body, concealing it in plastic garbage bags," Detective Hansen said.

A DNA Test was used to identify the remains of Bucker (KTVU)

A DNA test was used to identify the remains of Buckner, whose family described her as "beautiful, brilliant, kind" and that her death "left a void that is indescribable in her community and village." They added that she had "an incredibly bright future."

Her loved ones said she was an accomplished basketball player and attended Howard University in Washington DC, where she graduated with a double major in philosophy and sports management. Later, Buckner went on to study at Golden Gate University School of Law and she was mere months away from earning a law degree.

Buckner, from San Ramon, was also descried as an "outgoing energetic child of God."

Benjamin Lynch