My mum was brutally murdered at 24 when I was at home in bed just age six – a ciggy packet led to arrest 50 years later
But tragically, the mum-of-one never made it home to her baby. She was found strangled, sexually assaulted and wedged into the back seat of her own car.
4
4
Jeanette was last seen alive leaving the Lion's Den bar in San Jose, California with an unidentified man just before midnight on January 31 1977.
She told pals that she'd be back in 10 minutes.
The following day, her body was discovered dead in the back of her Volkswagen Beetle in a carport near the bar.
A medical examiner determined that she had been strangled with the long-sleeve shirt that was found wound around her neck.
The cold-blooded killer then tried to set Jeanette's car on fire, but it failed to burn.
He got away with the slaying for nearly five decades.
Willie Eugene Sims, 69, was arrested two weeks ago and charged with the brutal murder of Jeanette in January 1977, according to Santa Clara County prosecutors.
The Ohio man was finally linked to the crime through a cigarette pack in Jeanette's VW Beetle.
The breakthrough came last August when police made the decision to retest fingerprints on the cigarette packet, despite testing from years prior not linking anyone to the cold case.
But Santa Clara Deputy District Attorney Rob Baker said that his office decided to 'throw a Hail Mary' after the FBI updated its fingerprint database's search algorithm.
'Just about a year ago, I was like, 'hey, let's run those prints again to see if we get lucky',' he told KGO.
To Baker's astonishment, the fresh search revealed a match for Sims.
Further analysis found Sims' DNA under Jeanette's fingernails and on the shirt used to strangle her, according to cops.
Jeanette's son Allen, who was just six-years-old when his mother was violently taken from him, has expressed gratitude for Sims' arrest.
4
"His birthday is coming up - he said this was such a great birthday present,' Baker said.
'We can't bring her back, but at least now we can answer some of the questions that have haunted the family and offer them the closure they've waited almost 50 years for.'
Allen shared his heartfelt thanks in a social media post, acknowledging the detectives' tireless work.
He wrote: 'You have undoubtedly made a six-year-old kid happy after all these years. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for a job well done.'
Sims has now been arraigned on the murder charge and is due to be extradited to California, where he could face a sentence of 25 years to life behind bars.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
3 minutes ago
- The Independent
What is known about the search for a former US soldier suspected of killing 4 at a Montana bar
The manhunt for a former U.S. soldier suspected of killing four people at a bar in Montana stretched into a fourth day Monday, with deputies searching the mountainous terrain by foot and air after the man escaped in a stolen vehicle containing camping gear. Authorities say Michael Paul Brown, 45, fatally shot four people Friday morning at The Owl Bar in the small town of Anaconda with a rifle that police believe was his personal weapon. He fled in a white pickup that he later ditched and stole a car stocked with clothes, shoes and other supplies. A female bartender and three male patrons were killed. The shooting rattled the tight-knit town of about 9,000 people, and many residents remain on high alert with the suspect still at large. Here's what is known about the search. How is the search progressing? Law enforcement officers from across the state have been brought in to assist with the search for Brown, Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen said. Search teams include multiple local, state, and federal agencies and are surveying the area both on the ground and by air. Helicopters whirred overhead throughout the weekend as Anaconda residents adjusted to daily life after the shooting. The search initially concentrated on an area off Stumptown Road, west of Anaconda. Knudsen said investigators are now searching all possible options for Brown's whereabouts, including the woods where he hunted and camped in his youth. They suspect he may be armed. The woods southwest of Anaconda have been closed to the public by the National Forest System as the manhunt carries on. Business owners locked their doors Friday and sheltered inside with customers. A lockdown of the Stumptown Road area was lifted on Saturday, but many local businesses were slow to reopen. Who were the victims? The victims were identified on Sunday as Daniel Edwin Baillie, 59, Nancy Lauretta Kelley, 64, David Allen Leach, 70, and Tony Wayne Palm, 74. All four were residents of Anaconda, which is situated between rugged mountains about 25 miles (40 kilometers) northwest of Butte. Robert Wyatt, 70, said he was neighbors with Leach at a public housing complex for elderly people and people with disabilities. Leach was deaf and kept mostly to himself, Wyatt said, but he was always happy to help his neighbors. In a town where 'everybody knows everybody,' the entire community is hurting, said resident David Jabarek, 70. What is known about the suspect? Brown served in the Army as an armor crewman from 2001 to 2005 and deployed to Iraq from early 2004 until March 2005, said Lt. Col. Ruth Castro, an Army spokesperson. Brown was in the Montana National Guard from 2006 to March 2009 and left military service at the rank of sergeant, Castro said. Brown lived next door to The Owl Bar, according to owner David Gwerder, who was not present during the shooting Friday morning. It was widely believed that Brown knew at least some of the victims. In a photo released by law enforcement, Brown appears gaunt, barefoot and wearing nothing but black shorts. Brown's niece, Clare Boyle, told The Associated Press that her uncle has struggled with mental illness for years, and she and other family members repeatedly sought help for him. He was known to local law enforcement before the shooting, Knudsen said. There is a $7,500 reward for any information leading to Brown's capture.
The Independent
3 minutes ago
- The Independent
Man stabbed to death in Bury car park named as two more arrests made
A man stabbed to death near Manchester has been named as two more arrests have been made. The victim, named by police as Mohammed Afzal, was attacked just before 9pm on Friday in a car park on Market Street in Bury, Greater Manchester. The 19-year-old suffered several stab wounds and later died from his injuries. On Monday, police said they had arrested two men, both 19, in connection with the murder investigation. This brings the total number of people, all men aged 19, who have been arrested in connection with the death to five, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said. Three men were arrested over the two days following the incident, and one has since been released on bail, the force said on Monday. Inquiries remain ongoing while Mr Afzal's family are being supported by specialist officers, police added. Detective Chief Inspector John Charlton, from GMP's Major Incident Team, said: "Officers have worked non-stop for the past few days, resulting in the arrest of five people on suspicion of murder. "While our investigation is still in its very early days, we are making good progress with our various lines of inquiry, and I want to thank those who have come forward with information to assist us." Anyone with information that could assist the investigation has been asked to contact police by calling 101, or through the live chat at quoting log 3354 of 01/08/25. Information can also be provided anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Daily Mail
3 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Adorable toddler killed in hot car on eve of his 2nd birthday after FOSTER dad 'forgot about him'
An adorable toddler died two days before his second birthday after he was left in a hot car by his foster father for over eight hours, according to police. Hudley Owen Hamlett was found unresponsive on Thursday after his legal guardian, Brian Dalton, left him in a hot car while he went to work in Virginia, officials said. The tragedy was uncovered when Dalton arrived at the Chestnut Academy day care at about 3.30pm to pick Hudley up but was informed the toddler had not been dropped off that day. That's when Hudley was discovered strapped in the back of the vehicle Dalton had driven to work that morning. Dalton had left the boy in his car as he worked an eight-hour shift and did not realize it until he went to the daycare in the afternoon, according to officials. Staff at the daycare and first responders attempted life-saving measures but Hudley was pronounced dead at a hospital, as reported by ABC 13. Temperatures in Amherst County, about a 120-mile drive from Richmond, reached 88 degrees on Thursday afternoon. Hudley Owen Hamlett died two days before his second birthday after he was left in a hot car Foster father Brian Dalton left the boy in the car for over eight hours as he went to work, cops said A heartbreaking image from the scene shows the boy's shoe and backpack on the ground Dalton was taken into custody at the scene and was charged with abuse and neglect of children and involuntary manslaughter. 'It's just a tragedy that you never, never expect to happen, never should happen, but it's unfortunate that it did,' said Amherst County Sheriff L.J. Ayers. 'As a man of faith, I would have to say that the only consolation that I can find in this is this little fella has faced many challenges in his short life. Now, he has the ability to grow and flourish without life's challenges in his eternal home.' The sheriff said Dalton has been cooperating with officials and expressed remorse over the tragedy. He added that there is nothing that points to an intentional act. The Virginia community gathered for a vigil to honor Hudley on Saturday, which would have been his second birthday. Hudley's biological mother Jennifer Dalton told local news outlets the loss was devastating. They said they are 'taking it one day at a time' and know the toddler is watching over them. It's not clear why Hudley was in foster care. The tragedy was uncovered when Dalton arrived at the Chestnut Academy day care to pick Hudley up but was informed the toddler had not been dropped off that day It comes less than a month after a 5-year-old Nebraska boy in foster care died after being left for several hours inside a hot SUV. The boy's foster mother, 40-year-old Juanita Piñon of Omaha, was arrested and charged with child abuse by neglect resulting in death. The temperature in Omaha peaked at 86 degrees about an hour before the child was found.
