Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has offered a $50,000 reward for information about the murder of Ashley Yamauchi in San Rafael nearly two years ago.
Yamauchi, 33, of Greenbrae, worked as a nanny in San Rafael and was last seen at the Fourth Street Tavern at 711 Fourth St. watching Monday Night Football on Dec. 15, 2008.
Her partially clothed body was found between a vehicle and a wall of the business around 7:30 a.m. the next day in the tavern’s back parking lot by a business owner reporting for work.
An autopsy determined she had been sexually assaulted and died of asphyxiation.
The $50,000 reward was requested by San Rafael Police Chief Matthew C. Odetto.
The Governor’s Reward program process starts when the governor receives a written request from the chief of the law enforcement agency investigating the crime.
The request must inform the governor that investigators have pursued all leads and believe a reward will help solve the crime. The victim’s family must also support the reward.
The governor makes the final decision regarding whether a reward is offered.
The rewards do not expire and are paid only if the information authorities receive leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons charged with the crime.
There is also a $4,000 reward for information about the crime, San Rafael police said last year on the one-year anniversary of the murder.
Schwarzenegger’s office said 292 governor’s rewards have been offered since 1967, and 22 have been paid.
James Lanaras, Bay City News
Want more news, sent to your inbox every day? Then how about subscribing to our email newsletter? Here’s why we think you should. Come on, give it a try.
