Cold Case Cracked: Arrest Made in 1977 Murder of Jeanette Ralston

A decades-old cold case has finally been broken with the arrest of Willie Sims, a 69-year-old former Army private, in connection to the 1977 murder of Jeanette Ralston in California’s Bay Area. The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office announced the arrest, highlighting the relentless pursuit of justice by their Cold Case Unit, which has been haunted by this case since its inception in 2011.

Ralston, a 24-year-old San Mateo resident, was found dead on February 1, 1977, in the back seat of her Volkswagen Beetle, parked in the carport of an apartment complex near the Lion’s Den Bar in San Jose. The medical examiner determined that she had been strangled with a long-sleeved dress shirt, and the autopsy revealed evidence of sexual assault. The perpetrator had also attempted to set her car ablaze, but the effort failed.

At the time, investigators were unable to identify any suspects, and the case went cold for decades. However, the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office never gave up on seeking justice for Ralston and her family. Deputy District Attorney Rob Baker, speaking to Fox News Digital, emphasized the unit’s unwavering commitment, stating, "Our guiding principle at the Cold Case Unit here in Santa Clara County is we never forget. We never forget the victims. We never forget the family of those victims, and we never forget the loved ones of those victims."

The breakthrough in the case came in August 2024, when a fingerprint found on one of Ralston’s cigarette packs was matched to Willie Sims. Baker explained that previous attempts to identify the fingerprint had been unsuccessful, but a new FBI fingerprint algorithm enabled the crucial identification. "About a year ago, we decided, ‘Hey, let’s have the fingerprints in this case checked again.’ We caught a break last summer when we sent the fingerprints out, and we got a hit, which led us to the front door of Mr. Sims’s home in Ohio."

The identification of Sims as a potential suspect ignited a renewed investigation. Prosecutors discovered that Sims had been stationed at Fort Ord, a former U.S. military base in Marina, California, at the time of Ralston’s murder. Further investigation revealed that Sims had a prior conviction for assault to commit murder in Monterey County in 1978. Notably, he had moved out of state before his DNA could be entered into CODIS, the state’s DNA database.

Earlier this year, investigators from the District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation and the San Jose Police Department traveled to Ohio to collect a DNA sample from Sims, with the assistance of Ashtabula County authorities. The DA’s Crime Lab subsequently found DNA consistent with Sims on Ralston’s fingernails and the shirt used to strangle her, solidifying the case against him.

Ashtabula County Prosecutor April Grabman confirmed that Sims made his initial court appearance in Ohio and waived his right to a full extradition hearing. She expressed hope that Sims’ arrest would bring closure to Ralston’s family after years of uncertainty and grief.

"I am hopeful with Mr. Sims’ arrest the family can hold on to hope that justice will be served and, although several years later, they can finally bring some closure to their loss," Grabman said.

Prosecutors believe that Ralston met Sims at the Lion’s Den Bar on the night of January 31, 1977. She was last seen alive by friends as she left the bar with an unknown man just before midnight. There is no apparent connection between Sims and Ralston other than their meeting at the bar, according to prosecutors.

Baker described the arrest as an emotional moment for both the investigators and Ralston’s family. He spoke with Ralston’s son, who was only six years old when his mother was murdered. "It was an emotional day for us when we actually made the arrest, and certainly it was an emotional day for the family," Baker said. "I talked to Jeanette’s son. He was 6 years old when she died, and he was very appreciative of the work we did and the work that we had done in the case."

Sims now faces charges in California and could face a sentence of 25 years to life in prison if convicted. The case serves as a testament to the dedication of cold case units and the advancements in forensic technology that can bring closure to families and ensure that justice is served, no matter how long it takes. The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office remains committed to pursuing justice in every case, regardless of the passage of time.