DNA analysis leads to arrest of suspect in murder of teenager in California in 1982

Police in Northern California announced the arrest of a man in connection with the rape and murder of a teenager that has remained unsolved for 42 years. The suspect was able to identify the perpetrator using relatively new DNA technology.

James Unick, 62, of Willows, about 85 miles northwest of Sacramento, was booked into the Sonoma County Jail late Monday. According to inmate records, he faces charges of murder, rape, lewd acts with a minor, kidnapping for the purpose of sexual battery and murder during kidnapping under special circumstances.

He was being held without bail. It was unclear Tuesday evening whether he has legal representation. The Sonoma County public defender did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Sara Ann Geer, 13, was found murdered in downtown Cloverdale, about 120 miles southwest of Willows, on May 24, 1982, according to police. She was kidnapped and raped, they said.

DNA evidence was collected, but until a few years ago the technology was not advanced enough to track down a suspect, Cloverdale police said.

“Based on the evidence and through the use of modern DNA genealogy technology, a male DNA profile was determined,” the department said.

The increasing availability of consumer DNA trait and ancestry tracing kits has created vast databases that police can use to compare evidence with DNA. Likewise, investigators can search databases of suspects, defendants and convicted criminals who have been asked to provide DNA to find close matches that could lead them to relatives.

Using genealogy, investigators may not get an exact match, but they can get close enough to determine whether a suspect belongs to a group of siblings or other relatives. This can lead to surveillance and undercover operations to collect a possible suspect’s discarded food, cups and eating utensils to find an exact DNA match.

DNA genealogy was used in the arrest and conviction of the “Golden State Killer” Joseph DeAngelo and the “Grim Sleeper” Lonnie Franklin Jr.

Police considered reopening Sara Ann’s unsolved case as early as 2019, and in July 2021 they made it official when they hired a private investigation firm to help, according to a statement at the time.

Investigators hoped that “the latest technological advances” would shed new light on Sara Ann’s death, the police statement said.

Investigators also blamed social media rumors about her case for complicating the investigation. “Misleading information on social media … already threatens to compromise the integrity of the ongoing investigation,” Cloverdale police said in 2021.

On Tuesday, Cloverdale Mayor Todd Lands said, “Today we stand in solidarity with the Geer family and witness the culmination of years of hard work and perseverance by our law enforcement officers. This arrest not only represents a step toward closure, but also a reiteration of our commitment to ensuring safety and justice for all in Cloverdale.”