Rachel Buckner : “Pleasanton Man Guilty of Killing Girlfriend”

Accident – Death – Obituary News : : 1. Pleasanton murder conviction
2. Alameda shoreline dumping case

A Pleasanton resident was found guilty of second-degree murder for killing his girlfriend, dismembering her body, and dumping her remains on Bay Farm Island in Alameda. Joseph Roberts, 43, faces 15 years to life in prison after being convicted in an Oakland courtroom. Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price stated, “Today’s verdict brings justice to Rachel Elizabeth Imani Buckner and her family.” Roberts and Buckner met at Golden Gate University Law School, living together in Pleasanton. Police records showed previous welfare checks and domestic violence calls. Roberts was arrested in connection with Buckner’s death after DNA evidence linked him to the crime. Roberts will be sentenced on June 14.

A shocking and tragic incident unfolded in the city of Alameda, where a Pleasanton resident was convicted of second-degree murder for the brutal killing of his girlfriend. Joseph Roberts, 43, was found guilty of murdering Rachel Elizabeth Imani Buckner, dismembering her body, and dumping her remains on Bay Farm Island in Alameda.

The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office announced the verdict on Monday after a jury deliberated for less than a day in an Oakland courtroom. Roberts now faces 15 years to life in prison for this heinous crime that has left the community reeling.

The relationship between Roberts and Buckner began at Golden Gate University Law School in 2019, and they later moved in together in an apartment in Pleasanton. However, police records revealed a history of welfare checks and domestic violence calls to their residence.

The chilling events unfolded last year when Buckner mysteriously disappeared. Roberts failed to report her missing, raising suspicions about his involvement in her disappearance. The grim discovery was made on July 20, 2023, when Alameda Police found Buckner’s dismembered body inside a black garbage bag at the Harbor Bay Club on Bay Farm Island.

Following extensive investigations and DNA evidence linking Roberts to the crime scene, he was arrested on September 6, 2023, by the U.S. Marshals Service and local law enforcement. Despite pleading not guilty during court hearings, the overwhelming evidence presented during the trial, including DNA on the duct tape used to seal the garbage bag containing Buckner’s remains, led to his conviction.

District Attorney Pamela Price expressed the community’s shock and devastation over the brutal murder of Buckner, emphasizing the need for justice to be served. The second-degree murder charge was the maximum Roberts faced, given the circumstances of the case.

Roberts is scheduled to be sentenced on June 14 at the René C. Davidson Courthouse, where he will face the consequences of his actions. The tragic loss of Rachel Elizabeth Imani Buckner has left her family and the community traumatized, with the memory of her murder forever etched in their hearts.

As the case unfolds and justice is served, the community mourns the loss of a vibrant young woman whose life was cut short in a senseless act of violence. The impact of this tragedy will be felt for years to come, serving as a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of seeking justice for the victims of such heinous crimes.