Cynthia Alonzo: Oakland excavation linked to search for missing woman

OAKLAND (KTVU) -- The excavation Thursday of a site on land near the Oakland port was linked to the presumed death 12 years ago of a woman whose body has never been found.

Law enforcement officers spent several hours Thursday digging up land near 7th and Maritime streets and crime scene tape prevented access to the area while the excavation occurred.

The Alameda County district attorney's office told KTVU that the effort was an attempt to find the remains of Cynthia Linda Alonzo, who disappeared in November 2004. Eric Mora, 59, has been convicted of second-degree murder in the death of Alonzo, who was his ex-girlfriend.

Mora was sentenced to 15 years to life in state prison but the appellate court ordered a new trial, saying his attorneys were not able to present evidence that showed someone else may have been responsible for Alonzo's death.

The body of Alonzo, who was 48 years old when she was last seen, has never been found and a murder weapon has never been recovered. 

KTVU reporter Jesse Gary contributed to this report.