Thumbprint on cigarette carton leads to arrest in 1977 death of young woman
After nearly 46 years, a thumbprint on a cigarette carton has led to the arrest of Willie Eugene Sims for the 1977 murder of Jeanette Ralston in California. Ralston was found strangled in her car in San Jose, and the case had gone cold despite initial efforts to identify her killer. Recent advancements in forensic science allowed for the re-examination of evidence, where Sims' thumbprint and DNA matched those found at the crime scene. Sims was apprehended in Ohio and is now facing murder charges in California, with the legal process underway. Ralston's son expressed relief over the arrest, emphasizing the importance of not giving up on unresolved cases.
Context:
After nearly 46 years, a thumbprint on a cigarette carton has led to the arrest of Willie Eugene Sims for the 1977 murder of Jeanette Ralston in California. Ralston was found strangled in her car in San Jose, and the case had gone cold despite initial efforts to identify her killer. Recent advancements in forensic science allowed for the re-examination of evidence, where Sims' thumbprint and DNA matched those found at the crime scene. Sims was apprehended in Ohio and is now facing murder charges in California, with the legal process underway. Ralston's son expressed relief over the arrest, emphasizing the importance of not giving up on unresolved cases.
Dive Deeper:
The arrest of Willie Eugene Sims was made possible by a thumbprint found on a cigarette carton belonging to Jeanette Ralston, which was re-analyzed using the FBI's updated system, leading to a match last fall.
Jeanette Ralston was discovered strangled in her Volkswagen Beetle in the carport of an apartment complex in San Jose on February 1, 1977, with evidence suggesting she was sexually assaulted and an attempt was made to set her car on fire.
Friends of Ralston reported seeing her leave a bar with an unknown man the night before her death, and despite a suspect sketch being created, the investigation into her murder went cold for decades.
Recent forensic advancements allowed authorities to match Sims' DNA with that found both on Ralston's fingernails and the shirt used to strangle her, after collecting his DNA in Ohio earlier this year.
District Attorney Jeff Rosen highlighted the relentless pursuit of justice as forensic science improves, stating that even though cases may grow old, they are not forgotten by investigators.
Sims, who was an army private stationed near San Jose at the time, had a prior conviction for assault with intent to commit murder in 1978, serving a four-year sentence in Monterey County.
Ralston's son, who was six years old at the time of her death, expressed gratitude for the arrest, signifying closure and appreciation for the continued efforts to resolve his mother's murder.