James Unick, 62, is the culprit, according to Cloverdale police in the tiny Northern California community, and family DNA supported their claims. About 120 miles northeast of the city is where he resides.
Authorities in Northern California said that a man has been arrested in connection with the 42-year-old cold case rape and murder of a young girl, citing fresh DNA evidence that suggests the suspect.
A Sonoma County Jail booking for James Unick, 62, of Willows, roughly 85 miles northwest of Sacramento, was made late on Monday. He was charged with murder, rape, 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 said, technology was not developed enough to use it to locate a culprit.
“A male DNA profile was identified from the evidence and through the use of modern DNA genetic genealogy technology,” claimed the agency.
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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 ancestry. Similarly, in order to uncover close matches that can lead them to family, investigators might 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 may get near enough to determine if 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.
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In July 2021, police formally announced their intention to reactivate the cold case of Sara Ann after hiring a private investigative agency, 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 fresh information about Sara Ann’s death.
Investigators also attributed the difficulty of their investigation to speculations on social media about her case. “Misleading information posted on social media … has already threatened to jeopardize the integrity of the investigation moving forward,” police in Cloverdale said in 2021.
“Today, we stand united in solidarity with the Geer family as we witness the culmination of years of hard work and perseverance by our law enforcement officials,” 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.
