A death-row inmate’s unlikely partnership with a private investigator has cracked one of California’s oldest cold cases, exposing how a serial killer evaded justice for decades while hiding in plain sight.
Story Highlights
- William Noguera, a death-row inmate, befriended serial killer Joseph Naso to extract murder confessions
- Charlotte Cook’s 1974 murder remained unsolved for 50 years until Noguera’s intelligence breakthrough
- Serial killer Joseph Naso’s “List of 10” victims matched specific details from Cook’s case
- Private investigator Kenneth Mains partnered with Noguera to revive multiple cold cases
Death Row Artist Becomes Unlikely Detective
William A. Noguera transformed his death-row confinement into an opportunity for redemption by systematically befriending convicted serial killer Joseph Naso. The Colombian-American artist spent years building trust with Naso, carefully extracting confessions and details about unsolved murders spanning decades. Noguera’s patient psychological manipulation proved more effective than traditional law enforcement interrogation methods, as Naso bragged about crimes he believed would never be solved.
Charlotte Cook’s Decades-Old Murder Case Reopened
Charlotte Cook, a 19-year-old college student and mother, left her Oakland home on January 3, 1974, to visit her sister. Her body was discovered the next day at Thornton Beach, Daly City, strangled with a belt around her neck. The case became Daly City’s oldest active homicide, with investigators lacking sufficient evidence or leads for nearly five decades. Cook’s daughter Freedom grew up without knowing her mother’s fate, representing countless families denied closure by unsolved crimes.
Serial Killer’s “List of 10” Provides Breakthrough Evidence
Joseph Naso maintained a handwritten “List of 10” documenting his potential victims, which investigators discovered contained references matching Charlotte Cook’s murder specifics. Naso revealed intimate details about Cook’s camel-hair coat and other crime scene elements that only the perpetrator would know. These revelations, combined with Noguera’s detailed notes from their conversations, provided law enforcement with the strongest evidence in the case since 1974.
Cold Case Investigation Exposes Systemic Failures
The breakthrough highlights how traditional law enforcement methods failed to connect obvious patterns in serial killer cases throughout the 1970s. Multiple jurisdictions are now reassessing cold cases for potential links to Naso, revealing decades of missed opportunities to stop his killing spree. This case demonstrates the value of unconventional investigative partnerships and persistent attention to detail that bureaucratic systems often overlook. The collaboration between Noguera and private investigator Kenneth Mains succeeded where conventional approaches stalled.
Charlotte Cook left her home in Oakland, California, one January afternoon in 1974 to visit her sister. The next day, her body was found at the bottom of a bluff near Daly City,… https://t.co/21f0LTmI3e
— Newser (@Newser) September 14, 2025
Law enforcement agencies across California continue reviewing evidence to determine whether Naso can be formally charged with Cook’s murder and other related cases. While the case remains technically unsolved, investigators consider Naso the prime suspect based on the compelling evidence extracted through Noguera’s unique access and investigative skills.
Sources:
How a Colombian-American artist on death row helped name a killer
