Investigators say DNA evidence connected Willie Sims, 69, to the 1977 strangulation death of Jeanette Ralston in San Jose. There were also signs of sexual assault.
ASHTABULA COUNTY, Ohio — Police in Ashtabula County have arrested a Jefferson man who investigators believe is linked to a cold case murder in California from nearly a half century ago.
In a joint release, the Ashtabula County Sheriff Bill Niemi and Ashtabula County Prosecutor April Grabman announced the arrest of Willie Sims, 69, who is accused of strangling Jeanette Ralston to death in San Jose, California, back in 1977.
“We are extremely thankful and proud to be a part of the law enforcement partners that worked together across state lines to seek justice for Ms. Ralston and her family,” Niemi and Grabman said in a joint statement.
CASE HISTORY
According to the Santa Clara County (California) District Attorney’s Office, friends of Ralston said they last saw her alive when she left the Lion’s Den Bar in San Jose with an unknown man just before midnight on Jan. 31, 1977.
On Feb. 1, Ralston, then 24 years old and living in San Mateo, “was found dead, wedged tightly in the back seat of her Volkswagen Beetle in the carport area of an apartment complex near the bar.”
Ralston’s cause of death was ruled as “strangulation from a long-sleeve dress shirt tied around her neck.” However, her autopsy also revealed evidence of sexual assault. In addition, authorities say the killer tried to light her car on fire, but it failed to burn.
No suspects were identified at the time as the case went cold for 47 years.
DNA EVIDENCE
In August of 2024, authorities say the case became active again when a fingerprint found on one of Ralston’s cigarette packs was found to match Sims, who was an Army private assigned to Fort Ord on Monterey Bay.
Investigators say Sims was convicted in 1978 for an assault to commit murder. He moved out of California before his DNA could be entered into CODIS, the national DNA database.
But earlier this year, members of the Santa Clara County DA’s Bureau of Investigation and San Jose Police Department traveled to Ohio to collect a DNA sample from Sims with the assistance of Ashtabula County authorities. Weeks ago, the Santa Clara DA’s Crime Lab found DNA “consistent with Sims on Ralston’s fingernails and the shirt used to strangle her.”
“Every day, forensic science grows better, and every day criminals are closer to being caught,” Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen said. “Cases may grow old and be forgotten by the public. We don’t forget and we don’t give up.”
On Tuesday, Sims appeared in Ashtabula County Common Pleas Court for an extradition hearing. He will be sent back to California to stand trial for the murder of Ralston. If convicted, he faces 25 years to life in prison.
