Thumbprint on cigarette carton leads to arrest in 1977 death of young woman

Nearly 48 years after the 1977 murder of 24-year-old Jeanette Ralston in San Jose, California, a breakthrough in forensic technology has led to the arrest of 69-year-old Willie Eugene Sims in Jefferson, Ohio. Ralston was found strangled and possibly sexually assaulted in the back seat of her Volkswagen Beetle on February 1, 1977. Despite initial investigations, the case went cold due to a lack of leads.

The pivotal development came when a thumbprint found on a carton of Eve cigarettes in Ralston’s car was re-examined using the FBI’s updated fingerprint database. The print matched Sims, who was an Army private stationed at Fort Ord, approximately 68 miles south of San Jose, at the time of the murder. Further DNA analysis confirmed that samples collected from Sims matched DNA found under Ralston’s fingernails and on the shirt used to strangle her.

Sims had a prior conviction in 1978 for assault with intent to commit murder in Monterey County, for which he served four years in prison. He has now been charged with Ralston’s murder and was arraigned in Ohio before being extradited to California. If convicted, he faces a potential sentence of 25 years to life.

  • Related Posts

    2 Israeli embassy staff members fatally shot near Jewish museum in DC

    On the evening of May 21, 2025, two staff members of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., were fatally shot outside the Capital Jewish Museum. The victims, identified as Yaron…

    11-year-old calls 911 on Texas mom after she set the family dogs on fire: Police

    A Texas mother has been arrested after her 11-year-old son called 911 and reported that she “believed he was the devil” and was in the process of “burning the family…

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Breaking News

    Pisces Weekly Horoscope June 4 – June 15, 2025

    • By admin
    • June 4, 2025
    • 3 views
    Pisces Weekly Horoscope June 4 – June 15, 2025

    Gemini Weekly Horoscope June 4 – June 15, 2025

    • By admin
    • June 4, 2025
    • 3 views
    Gemini Weekly Horoscope June 4 – June 15, 2025

    Cancer Weekly Horoscope June 4 – June 15, 2025

    • By admin
    • June 4, 2025
    • 2 views
    Cancer Weekly Horoscope June 4 – June 15, 2025

    Leo Weekly Horoscope June 4 – June 15, 2025

    • By admin
    • June 4, 2025
    • 2 views
    Leo Weekly Horoscope June 4 – June 15, 2025

    Virgo Weekly Horoscope for June 4–15, 2025

    • By admin
    • June 4, 2025
    • 4 views
    Virgo Weekly Horoscope for June 4–15, 2025

    Libra Weekly Horoscope June 4 – June 15, 2025

    • By admin
    • June 4, 2025
    • 3 views
    Libra Weekly Horoscope June 4 – June 15, 2025