Tragedy shocked the De Anza College community last week after administrative assistant Alexandre Hochstraser was arrested June 6 for allegedly murdering his girlfriend, Dolores Gonzales.
On June 5, the Santa Clara Police Department received an anonymous call indicating something suspicous was going on at his apartment.
During their investigation, they discovered the dismembered body of Dolores Gonzales, 43, inside a maroon Volkswagen Jetta.
Hochstraser, 46, is currently in custody, according to the SCPD.
Hochstraser held various positions around campus. He was part of the International Student Office, math department, learning center, and former union steward.
Hochstraser was one of many staff members to speak out against layoffs at the May 2 Board of Trustees meeting.
Gonzales was Hochstraser’s long-term girlfriend and they shared an apartment in Santa Clara.
The couple had a two-year-old child together. Gonzales had another child from a previous relationship.
Gonzales was a staff member at Mission College in Santa Clara.
"I have communicated on behalf of all of us the sense o f our grief and sadness for the loss of our collegue at Mission College," De Anza President Brian Murphy said.
A separate statement released by De Anza conveyed a similar message.
"We are all in shock at the news of the recent death of Dee Gonzales, a widely admired and respected member of the staff at our sister institution Mission College. Our thoughts and prayers go to her family and the young child."
He was a quiet and friendly person, Natasha Joplin, a De Anza counselor, said.
"I know him as a colleague but not very well," said Howard Irvin, department chair of the counseling center.
According to Irvin, the counseling department is providing a counselor to assist staff members affected by recent events.
"As for the students, we have counselors conducting confidential, personal counseling," Irvin said.
"We are aware that this is a time where additional anxiety like finals, exams and this incident may require more open times for counseling."
"I’ve even opened my schedule to see more students," Irvin said.
The counseling center has seen a couple of students and staff throughout the week.
"If we don’t have the availability of counselors and time, it’ll be a mess. So we’re here for the students," Irvin said.
In a message to the De Anza community, Murphy said, "This is a very difficult time and I know a lot of people are in a lot of hurt, so over the next several days we need to give special affection and support to our grieving colleagues."
SCPD and the District Attorney refused to comment on the ongoing investigation.
