Ohio man Willie Sims arrested in 1977 cold case murder of Jeanette Ralston in San Jose, California

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.

Full coverage: https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/crime/cold-cases/ashtabula-county-man-willie-sims-cold-case-california-jeanette-ralston-1977-strangling-death-jefferson/95-00445cbf-5c64-42ef-adb0-963b734fa340 --

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