Man Arrested in Connection to 2 Decades Old Cold Case Murders
DNA connected these California murders that were committed 16 years apart
In June 2022, an arrest was made, closing two cold cases in California. Seventy-six-year-old James Ray Gary was identified in a sexual assault case in 2021. Evidence from that case had been submitted to the state’s database and hit matches on two cold cases.
The first was from the 1980 murder of Latrelle Lindsay. Her body was found in her Union City home, and the main electrical line to the home had been cut, which is believed to be how the attacker gained entry. Latrelle had been strangled to death, suffered blunt trauma, and was sexually assaulted.
The second victim’s body was discovered in 1996. The remains were identified as forty-six-year-old Winifred Douglas. Winifred was from the Oakland area. Her body was found along Highway 780 in Vallejo, California. Her cause of death was determined to be strangulation and blunt force trauma.
The cases were connected in 2012 when new DNA evidence was found on Winifred’s clothing.
Unfortunately, little is known about the two women whose lives were cut short. Nor the circumstances of the 2021 attack. However, more information may be revealed down the line in further court proceedings.
Gary was arrested at his home without incident. He was booked into the Solano County Jail on two charges of homicide. He is being held without bail while awaiting further court dates.
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