Woman Arrested In Death Of Missing Nursing Student
HAYWARD (CBS13) -- Police announced Wednesday afternoon that a former high school friend has been arrested for the disappearance and presumed murder of a Hayward nursing student.
Giselle Esteban had been named as a person of interest in June in the search for 26-year-old Michelle Le, who was last seen in a class at Kaiser Hospital in Hayward at about 7:00 p.m. on May 27.
Esteban was formally charged by the Alameda County District Attorney's Office on Thursday.
When Le never returned from a quick trip to her car, an instructor reported her missing to authorities, who launched a search that is still ongoing. The victim's car was found about half a mile from the hospital and investigators found blood stains that were later confirmed to be from Michelle.
Hayward Police Lt. Roger Keener said at a press conference Wednesday that security camera footage at the hospital placed Esteban at the scene before and after Michelle's disappearance, and a search warrant of the suspect's apartment uncovered Michelle's DNA on one of Esteban's shoes.
Cell phone records also show both Michelle and Esteban's phone traveling away from the hospital on similar paths immediately after the nursing student's disappearance.
Esteban was arrested near her Union home at about 10:00 a.m. Wednesday and charged with murder, according to police.
Le and Esteban were friends at a San Diego high school, according to authorities. After Esteban was named as a suspect in June, she called Bay Area television station KGO-TV and said she hated Le for her friendship with the Esteban's ex-boyfriend, but denied all involvement in her disappearance.
The ex-boyfriend, who had custody of their daughter, was granted a restraining order against Esteban three days before Le vanished, according to court records.
Police praised Le's family members, who are continuing to organize searches for the missing woman and are still holding out hope she could be found alive.
Investigators said locating Le is a top priority and the case won't be closed until they find her.
