True crime doc lifts the lid on twisted case of 'bubbly' cheerleader, 19, who was beaten and strangled to death on NYE - before her partially clothed body was found stuffed in a concrete pipe on January 1

An upcoming documentary is set to unravel the chilling case of a cheerleader who was beaten and strangled to death before her partially clothed body was found stuffed into a concrete drainage pipe.

Valerie Zavala Wilson, who was a San Jose State sophomore studying education, had returned to her hometown in Fillmore, California, over the Christmas period in 2002.

The aspiring elementary school teacher, 19, attended a party with friends on December 31 to ring in the New Year - but tragically never made it home.

It would later emerge that she was subjected to a brutal attack before being killed by then 17-year-old Samuel Puebla who callously dumped her body.

Here, FEMAIL has laid bare the sordid details as Oxygen's Homicide For The Holidays gets set to explore the case.

The horrifying ordeal began at 9.30pm on New Year's Eve in 2002 when Valerie set off to the annual party accompanied by cousin Robert Padilla and friend Anna Hinojosa.

She appeared to be in good spirits and was even recorded on video standing in the kitchen with pals during the countdown - with former high school prom king Puebla also among the group.

Friends reported that at 2am Valerie, who was the designated driver, offered to drive both Anna and Puebla home before planning to visit a former boyfriend afterwards.

Anna was the first to be dropped off but Valerie's high school sweetheart said she never arrived to meet him.

Tragically, about 10am the next day, her half-naked body was discovered in a concrete drainage culvert in a citrus field between Fillmore and Santa Paula.

Her autopsy later revealed that she had died of asphyxia and suffered blunt-force head injuries, which had left her with a ruptured eardrum.

In the aftermath, father Kevin Wilson, said: 'She was a bubbly, vibrant, outgoing kid. 

'She was a very trusting person. I don't understand why things like this have to happen to people like her.' 

The car she had been driving that night was also found abandoned in the parking lot of Fillmore's lone grocery store. 

Detectives soon learned that Puebla had been one of the last people to see the cheerleader alive and he was questioned at his family home on New Year's Day.

He initially claimed that Valerie had dropped him off near his house before driving off, telling investigators that the pair had no romantic involvement.

But his story kept changing.

Puebla later acknowledged that he had tried to kiss Valerie, who had spurned his advances, and claimed he 'gave up any further attempt to strike up a romantic exchange.'

However, when told that forensic tests would be conducted on her body, the teen claimed the pair had sex.

Yet no evidence of intercourse was found. 

In the meantime, on January 7, detectives uncovered Valerie's underwear, stud earring and other personal items behind the St. Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic church - one block from Puebla's home.

Following the discovery, police executed a search warrant at his family home as evidence began stacking up against him.

It was at this time that investigators confiscated a jacket that he had been wearing that night - which had been identified from the video taken at the party - and found that it was splattered with Valerie's blood. 

Puebla's conflicting stories and blood-stained jacket were key pieces of evidence - with his shoe print also matching one found where Valerie's body had been dumped.

He was arrested and charged with murder and attempted rape but pleaded not guilty - sparking a month-long trial.

It emerged that the aspiring football player had tried to sexually assault Valerie in the car near his home and when she resisted he choked her into unconsciousness, according to the Santa Paula Times.

She regained consciousness and was able to flee the car but her assailant caught up with her and 'struck her in the head' in the parking lot of the church, District Attorney Greg Totten noted.

He said: 'Puebla removed her clothing and attempted, unsuccessfully, to rape her.'

Valerie was struck several further times as she attempted to defend herself before she was strangled to death while Puebla leaned on her chest.

'This woman suffered injuries trying to stay alive and didn't just go out in a peaceful way,' Senior Deputy District Attorney Maeve Fox told grand jurors at the time. 'This girl died fighting for her life.'

Puebla was convicted of first-degree murder, attempted rape, and the special circumstance of felony murder during the course of the attempted sexual assault.

He was ultimately was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.