A Decade-Long Cold Case Finally Cracks: New Details Emerge in Fresno Woman's Murder
Twenty years have passed since the gruesome murder of 22-year-old Debbie Dorian, a recent graduate from Fresno State University. Her body was discovered by her father in her northeast Fresno apartment, sparking an investigation that would go on to become one of California's most infamous cold cases.
For nearly two decades, investigators worked tirelessly to crack the case, but it wasn't until last year that a breakthrough came in the form of DNA evidence. Vince Zavala, a former Fresno law enforcement officer, played a pivotal role in solving the case, refusing to give up even after retiring from active duty.
"I literally had a murderer on the loose in the Fresno area," said ABC's Juju Chang, who recently sat down with Action News ahead of Friday's 20/20 episode. "Vince Zavala never gave up, and his dedication ultimately led to the arrest of Nickey Stane."
The latest episode of 20/20 features never-before-seen footage of the moment Stane was arrested at a fast-food restaurant in a mall where he worked. The exclusive body-cam video captures the dramatic confrontation between Zavala and Stane.
But the case goes beyond the initial murder, as investigators discovered that Stane had a history of sexually assaulting multiple women, including one survivor who came forward to share her story. Chang met with the survivor, who has remained anonymous but is now revealing her identity for the first time.
"She's incredibly feisty," Chang said. "She had a gun pointed at her and told the perpetrator, 'You're not going to get away with this.'"
With Stane now serving his life sentence, Friday's episode of 20/20 offers a rare opportunity for Debbie Dorian's family and survivors to share their story. For Juju Chang, it's a tribute to the power of storytelling.
"The idea that all these people were affected by the crime and that we get a chance to remember how she lived is really a tribute to all of the storytelling that we do here at 20/20," Chang said.
Chang was unable to comment from Stane, who declined to speak with her. Despite the passing of time, justice has finally been served for Debbie Dorian and her loved ones.
Twenty years have passed since the gruesome murder of 22-year-old Debbie Dorian, a recent graduate from Fresno State University. Her body was discovered by her father in her northeast Fresno apartment, sparking an investigation that would go on to become one of California's most infamous cold cases.
For nearly two decades, investigators worked tirelessly to crack the case, but it wasn't until last year that a breakthrough came in the form of DNA evidence. Vince Zavala, a former Fresno law enforcement officer, played a pivotal role in solving the case, refusing to give up even after retiring from active duty.
"I literally had a murderer on the loose in the Fresno area," said ABC's Juju Chang, who recently sat down with Action News ahead of Friday's 20/20 episode. "Vince Zavala never gave up, and his dedication ultimately led to the arrest of Nickey Stane."
The latest episode of 20/20 features never-before-seen footage of the moment Stane was arrested at a fast-food restaurant in a mall where he worked. The exclusive body-cam video captures the dramatic confrontation between Zavala and Stane.
But the case goes beyond the initial murder, as investigators discovered that Stane had a history of sexually assaulting multiple women, including one survivor who came forward to share her story. Chang met with the survivor, who has remained anonymous but is now revealing her identity for the first time.
"She's incredibly feisty," Chang said. "She had a gun pointed at her and told the perpetrator, 'You're not going to get away with this.'"
With Stane now serving his life sentence, Friday's episode of 20/20 offers a rare opportunity for Debbie Dorian's family and survivors to share their story. For Juju Chang, it's a tribute to the power of storytelling.
"The idea that all these people were affected by the crime and that we get a chance to remember how she lived is really a tribute to all of the storytelling that we do here at 20/20," Chang said.
Chang was unable to comment from Stane, who declined to speak with her. Despite the passing of time, justice has finally been served for Debbie Dorian and her loved ones.
. I mean, it's nice that Vince Zavala's dedication paid off and all, but can't we just get on with our lives? 
The victim, Debbie Dorian, was young and had her whole life ahead of her... does solving the case really bring back the memories or closure for everyone involved? 
It just feels like another cold case getting all the attention. And what about Nickey Stane's victims who didn't get to share their stories? 
I mean, think about it, Vince Zavala was a dedicated cop even after he retired... what drives someone to keep fighting for justice when they're not getting paid anymore? 
Is it just a matter of duty or is there something more at play? 
This case isn't just about justice being served but also about the human cost of inaction and the power of storytelling to bring people together. 
. And I'm glad they finally got to share Debbie Dorian's story , it's a shame she never got to live her life full-time 
like in this case, 20 years later 
. I mean, Vince Zavala was super determined to crack the case, and his refusal to give up even after he retired from active duty is really admirable 
. And Nickey Stane getting a life sentence for all those he's hurt is definitely a positive outcome 
. What's wild is that this case wasn't just about one murder, but also about all these other women who were sexually assaulted by Stane 
. It's good that they're finally able to share their stories and get some closure 
.
just saw this news about the Fresno cold case that's been going on for so long... it's insane how much info is coming out now! 
22-year-old Debbie was murdered in her apartment, and Vince Zavala, a former cop, refused to give up even after he retired 
. His dedication led to the arrest of Nickey Stane, who was having multiple run-ins with women. This case is so much deeper than just one murder 
. Good on Vince Zavala for not giving up, even when no one else would 
I feel bad for debbie's family tho, it must've been so hard on them waiting all these years for justice 
and the fact that he was also accused of assaulting multiple other women is just wild 
the fact that there were multiple survivors who came forward is just heartbreaking 
it's like how my grandma keeps track of all the birthdays of her kids' friends since she was a kid lol . anywayz , it's insane that Vince Zavala didn't give up even when he retired . like what's gonna make you wanna solve crimes when u can just retire and chill at home with your grandpa 
.
her fam must be so relieved now . I feel bad for the survivor too 
.
can't wait to see that body-cam video of stane getting arrested. and it's great to have a platform for the survivors to share their story too 
sexual assault victims taking control back and sharing their stories is everything we need more of 
. I'm also really glad that the survivor is speaking out and sharing her story, it's so important for victims of sexual assault to have a voice 
.
... anyway, kudos to Vince Zavala for never giving up and Juju Chang for bringing this story to light 
, it's wild to think that some of the footage they got is from a fast food restaurant body cam 
his dedication and perseverance have given justice to Debbie Dorian's family and the other survivors of Nickey Stane's heinous crimes 
