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Meet Supervising DA Investigator Osvaldo Cruz

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 through October 15, we are highlighting stories from DA employees and what inspired them to pursue a career in public service. Meet Supervising District Attorney Investigator Osvaldo Cruz.

Osvaldo has been with the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office for 10 years, and he recently celebrated 26 years in law enforcement. He currently serves as the Supervising District Attorney Investigator at the El Cajon Branch, where he supervises, leads, and supports our team of investigators to ensure they provide comprehensive investigative assistance to our Deputy District Attorneys. They also oversee security for the office, ensuring a safe and secure environment for our staff and the public we serve.

Outside of work, he shares both his life and his passion for public service with his wife, Stacie Cruz, who is also an investigator at our office. They are avid Padres fans (especially Stacie), and they both enjoy attending games, traveling when possible, and managing their small businesses. “We are proud to work together as partners in life, in law enforcement, and in business”, he said. “Staying active in both law enforcement and entrepreneurship keeps me energized and purpose driven.” Read more about what inspired Osvaldo to pursue a career in public service, below.

Why did you choose a career in public service/what inspired you to pursue this career?

“While my early professional path was focused on corporate business, including a role with Blockbuster as a regional ‘fixer’ for underperforming stores, I found myself increasingly drawn to law enforcement. My corporate role involved working closely with local law enforcement to combat theft, which sparked my interest. I began doing ride-alongs with Chula Vista Police Department and quickly felt a calling. In 1999, I began my law enforcement career as a correctional deputy with the San Diego Sheriff’s Department, and a year later accepted an offer to join Chula Vista Police, where I proudly served for over 15 years in a variety of investigative and leadership roles. My passion for business never left. I continue to own and operate several companies outside of work, but public service has remained my true calling.

Throughout my career, from patrol to specialized investigative units to now supervising a branch, I have always believed in building up others and creating teams that support one another. Whether I am working a case, developing a new business venture, or mentoring someone through a challenge, I stay committed to leading with integrity, compassion, and purpose.”

What is your favorite part of the job?

“Over the years, I’ve used a personal saying: ‘The cookie jar.’ Each time I make a meaningful impact on a victim or their family, I mentally file that moment away in my ‘cookie jar.’ When I’m facing a tough case or feeling discouraged, I reach into that jar and remind myself of the lives I’ve helped. That’s the best part of my job, knowing I’ve made a difference and carrying those moments with me as motivation to keep going. The cookie jar is full!”

What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you/why is it important?

“Hispanic Heritage Month is meaningful to me because our culture contributes so deeply to our community that its presence is often woven seamlessly into the fabric of daily life here in San Diego. I was born in East Los Angeles and raised in a gang-heavy area of the San Fernando Valley. Thanks to my mother’s unwavering guidance and discipline, I avoided the gang lifestyle that consumed many of my childhood friends. Her strength shaped my path, and my goal has always been to make her proud by being a model citizen. As a first-generation Mexican-American, I believe it is important to show others that with hard work and integrity, nothing is impossible. I take pride in giving back, whether through law enforcement or mentorship in business, and hope to inspire others to aim higher. My personal motto is simple: when I leave, I just want to know I left a dent in the world and that it was a positive one.”

Read more Hispanic Heritage Month stories from the DA’s Office, here.

Public’s Help Needed to Solve 2004 Cold Case Murder in Chula Vista

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said today that DA investigators, the Chula Vista Police Department and San Diego County Crime Stoppers are asking for the public’s help in identifying and locating the suspects responsible for the murder of a man that took place in Chula Vista more than 20 years ago.

Composite Sketch of Suspected Stabber in Ryan Cunningham 2004 murder in Chula Vista.

Composite Sketch of Suspected Stabber in Ryan Cunningham 2004 murder in Chula Vista.

On March 20, 2004, 22-year-old Ryan Cunningham was sitting on the patio of La Bella’s Pizza Garden in Chula Vista when he was attacked by a group of men. The suspects, several of whom were armed with various weapons, walked up to Cunningham and immediately began beating him. The beating continued as Cunningham fell to the ground and was eventually stabbed by one of the suspects. The suspects fled in two separate vehicles. Cunningham was transported to a local hospital where he later died.

Detectives from the Chula Vista Police Department Crimes of Violence Unit learned that several private parties were being held at La Bella’s that evening, including a baby shower. Numerous employees and customers of the busy restaurant witnessed the murder. Investigators are asking anyone who attended one of the parties, was at the restaurant, or who may have information about the murder to contact them.

All of the suspects are described as Hispanic males in their 20’s, who would now be in their 40’s. The suspected stabber was described as a Hispanic male in his early 20’s, approximately six feet tall, thin build, with very short dark hair. A sketch of the suspected stabber is attached.

“The victim, Ryan Cunningham, lost his life in this senseless murder and his family deserves to have justice,” said DA Summer Stephan. “It’s clear that there are witnesses that know who stabbed the victim to death or have other valuable information that can help police and investigators to solve this case, but maybe they are afraid to come forward or simply don’t want to be involved. The only way that we can keep all our neighborhoods safe is through partnership with the community. We urge you to provide any information you have about this murder not just because of the reward but because it’s the right thing to do.”  

San Diego County Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for any information that leads to an arrest in this case. Anyone with information on this murder is asked to call the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (888) 580-8477. The public can visit the Crime Stoppers website at www.sdcrimestoppers.org for more information on how to send anonymous web and mobile app tips.

Working with the Chula Vista Police Department, this case is being investigated by the DA’s Gangs Division, which prosecutes complex murder cases and other serious crimes perpetrated by violent criminal street gangs, whose members terrorize neighborhoods across the county. In 2023, the Gangs Division conducted 19 murder jury trials, which was 36% of the total murders tried by the DA’s Office.