A man has been arrested in connection with the 42-year-old cold case rape and murder of a teenage girl, according to Northern California police. They add that the suspect’s relatively recent DNA test results support their theory.
According to inmate records, James Unick, 62, of Willows, roughly 85 miles northwest of Sacramento, was booked late on Monday into the Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of rape, murder,lewd acts with a minor by force, kidnapping for molestation, and a special circumstance allegation of murder during a kidnapping.
There was no bail set for him. Whether he has legal counsel remained unclear Tuesday night. A request for comment from the Sonoma County Public Defender was not immediately answered.
On May 24, 1982, police discovered 13-year-old Sara Ann Geer slain in downtown Cloverdale, some 120 miles southwest of Willows. They said she had been kidnapped and raped.
DNA evidence was gathered, but until recently, Cloverdale police stated, technology was not developed enough to utilize it to locate a culprit.
“From the data and with the aid of contemporary DNA genetic genealogy technologies, a male DNA profile was determined,” claimed the department.
Police may now match evidence to DNA thanks to the vast databases that have been developed by the widespread use of consumer kits for tracing DNA traits and heritage. Similarly, in order to uncover close matches that can lead them to family, investigators can search databases of suspects, defendants, and convicted offenders who were forced to provide their DNA.
Investigators using genealogy may not find a perfect match, but they can come near enough to determine whether a suspect is related to a suspect or not. In an effort to find a precise DNA match, this may result in surveillance and covert operations to gather leftover food, cups, and dining utensils from a potential suspect.
“Grim Sleeper” Lonnie Franklin Jr. and “Golden State Killer” Joseph DeAngelo were apprehended and found guilty thanks to DNA genealogy.
In July 2021, police formally announced their intention to reactivate the cold case of Sara Ann after hiring a private investigation firm, as stated in a statement at the time. The police had been mulling this since 2019.
According to the police statement, investigators believed that “the latest technological advancement” will provide new information about Sara Ann’s death.
Investigators also attributed the difficulty of their investigation to speculations on social media regarding her case. “False information shared on social media has already raised concerns about potential threats to the ongoing investigation’s objectivity,” police in Cloverdale stated in 2021.
“We stand together in support of the Geer family today as we see our law enforcement personnel’ years of dedication and hard work come to fruition,” Cloverdale Mayor Todd Lands said in a statement on Tuesday. This arrest is a step in the right direction, but it also serves as a reminder of our dedication to guaranteeing everyone in Cloverdale safety and justice.