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California 1977 cold-case murder suspect identified as 69-year-old former Army private living in Ohio

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California 1977 cold-case murder suspect identified as 69-year-old former Army private living in Ohio


An arrest has been made in a grisly cold-case murder that has been “haunting” prosecutors in California’s Bay Area for more than a decade, a district attorney told Fox News Digital.  

Willie Sims, a 69-year-old former Army private now living in Jefferson, Ohio, was identified as the suspect who allegedly strangled Jeanette Ralston to death with a long-sleeved shirt in early 1977 after meeting the 24-year-old at a bar in San Jose. The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office announced Sims’ arrest this week, citing new fingerprint and DNA evidence. 

“This is a case that’s been haunting all the cold-case prosecutors for literally since 2011, when [our] Cold Case Unit was established,” Santa Clara Deputy District Attorney Rob Baker told Fox News Digital. “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.” 

“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,” he added. “And we’re always going to seek justice, whether it takes 10 years, 20 years or 50 years.” 

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CALIFORNIA ATTORNEY GENERAL TAKES STANCE ON MENENDEZ BROTHERS PROSECUTOR STAYING ON CASE AMID RESENTENCING BATTLE 

Prosecutors in California revealed an arrest in the 1977 unsolved murder of Jeanette Ralston. (Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office)

The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office said friends of Ralston had last seen her alive on Jan. 31, 1977, “when she left the Lion’s Den Bar at 1500 Almaden Road in San Jose with an unknown man just before midnight.”

“On February 1, 1977, 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,” the attorney’s office added. “The medical examiner concluded the cause of death was strangulation from a long-sleeve dress shirt tied around her neck. The autopsy also showed evidence of sexual assault. The killer tried to light her car on fire, but it failed to burn.” 

At the time of her murder, no suspects were identified, prosecutors said. 

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The case then went cold for decades “until a fingerprint found on one of Ralston’s cigarette packs was found to match Sims in August 2024,” according to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office. 

Baker told Fox News Digital that prosecutors previously searched for the fingerprints in this case, “but it wasn’t until we searched again last year where the new FBI’s fingerprint algorithm made an identification.” 

ATTEMPTED MURDER FUGITIVE BUSTED AS 40-YEAR SCHEME POSING AS DEAD COLLEGE MATE UNRAVELS 

Baker told Fox News Digital that a thumbprint from a carton of cigarettes found in Ralston’s car “is what led us to Ohio” and suspect Willie Sims, shown right. (Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office)

He described it as a “major break” in the hunt for Ralston’s killer.

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“It was an emotional day for us when we actually made the arrest, and certainly it was an emotional day for the family,” Baker added. 

“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,” Baker said.

Prosecutors said Sims was an Army private assigned to Fort Ord, a former U.S. military base in Marina, California, at the time of Ralston’s murder. He “was convicted in 1978 for an assault to commit murder in Monterey County” and later “moved out of state before his DNA could be entered into CODIS, the state’s DNA database,” they added. 

DNA SAMPLE TIES ELDERLY MAN TO 40-YEAR-OLD COLD CASE MURDER OF TEXAS WOMAN 

A 1977 booking photo of Willie Sims, left, and a sketch of a suspect made by the San Jose Police Department after Ralston’s murder. (Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office)

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“Earlier this year, DA’s Bureau of Investigation and San Jose Police Department investigators traveled to Ohio to collect a DNA sample from Sims with the assistance of Ashtabula County authorities. Weeks ago, the DA’s Crime Lab found DNA consistent with Sims on Ralston’s fingernails and the shirt used to strangle her,” the attorney’s office said.

Ashtabula County Prosecutor April Grabman told Fox News Digital that Sims made an initial court appearance Tuesday in Ohio and waived his right to a full extradition hearing.

“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,” she said.

Prosecutors in California said Sims faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted.

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“Jeanette was at a bar with two of her friends, and they were just dancing and hanging out and having a fun night out, and she ran into the man who killed her,” Baker told Fox News Digital. “We don’t have any apparent connection between Mr. Sims and Ms. Ralston other than they met at this bar on Feb. 1, 1977.”



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Ohio State Transfer QB Lincoln Kienholz Commits to Louisville

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Ohio State Transfer QB Lincoln Kienholz Commits to Louisville


LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Louisville football program, presumably, has their QB1 for the 2026 season.

Former Ohio State quarterback Lincoln Kienholz announced Saturday that he has committed to the Cardinals. He will join Louisville will two years of eligilbility.

Keinholz is Louisville’s second portal commitment of the cycle, joining Kentucky cornerback D.J. Waller. The duo are the first to offset 21 portal defections that UofL has seen so far. The 14-day transfer window officially opened up this past Friday, and is the only opportunity for players to enter following the removal of the spring window.

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The 6-foot-2, 214-pound quarterback was involved in a highly competitive battle for the Buckeyes’ starting gig in the preseason, before ultimately losing out to eventual Heisman Trophy finalist Julian Sayin. He saw action in seven games this past season, going 11-of-14 through the air for 139 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for 66 yards and two scores on 11 attempts.

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“Just a tremendous athlete,” OSU head coach Ryan Day said of Kienholz at Big Ten Media Days this past summer. “You pick a sport, he can do it. He’s like a four handicap [in golf]. He can hit the [baseball] out of the park. He was a major league baseball prospect. He can windmill dunk. He can do a lot of things.”

The Pierre, S.D. native spent three seasons in Columbus. As a true freshman in 2023, he played in three games, going 10-of-22 for 111 yards, while also rushing for two yards on six attempts. He did not log any stats during Ohio State’s 2024 national championship season.

Kienholz was a highly-regarded recruit coming out of high school, ranking as No. 194 prospect in the Class of 2023. He chose Ohio State over Illinois, Kansas State, Pitt, Washington, Wisconsin and others.

He has the inside track to be Louisville’s starter next season given recent roster movement. Previously, incoming true freshman Briggs Cherry was the lone scholarship quarterback on the roster after Deuce Adams, Brady Allen and Mason Mims all hit the transfer portal.

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In their third season under head coach Jeff Brohm, Louisville went 9-4 overall, including a 4-4 mark in ACC play and a 27-22 win over Toledo in the Boca Raton Bowl. The Cardinals have won at least nine games in all three seasons under Brohm, doing so for the first time since 2012-14.

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(Photo of Lincoln Kienholz: Adam Cairns – Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

You can follow Louisville Cardinals On SI for future coverage by liking us on Facebook, Twitter/X and Instagram:

Facebook – @LouisvilleOnSI
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You can also follow Deputy Editor Matthew McGavic at @Matt_McGavic on Twitter/X and @mattmcgavic.bsky.social on Bluesky

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Ohio Lottery Pick 3 Midday, Pick 3 Evening winning numbers for Dec. 28, 2025

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The Ohio Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 28, 2025, results for each game:

Pick 3

Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening.

Midday: 9-0-9

Evening: 2-4-1

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Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Pick 4

Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening.

Midday: 6-4-5-8

Evening: 4-6-2-6

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

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Pick 5

Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at 12:29 p.m. and 7:29 p.m., except Saturday evening.

Midday: 6-8-6-2-0

Evening: 2-4-5-7-9

Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Rolling Cash 5

Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at approximately 7:05 p.m.

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10-11-15-19-34

Check Rolling Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Lucky For Life

Drawings are held daily, seven days a week, at approximately 10:35 p.m.

12-17-25-34-42, Lucky Ball: 09

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

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This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Enquirer digital news director. You can send feedback using this form.



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Ohio Turnpike issues travel ban for high-profile vehicles due to high winds

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Ohio Turnpike issues travel ban for high-profile vehicles due to high winds


Due to high winds in Northeast Ohio, the Ohio Turnpike has issued a travel ban for certain vehicles on Monday.

From 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m., some high-profile vehicles that may be affected by high wind speeds will be prohibited from using the turnpike.

The following vehicles will not be able to travel using the turnpike:

  • All high-profile (greater than 7-feet 6-inches in height) tow-behind trailers, campers, boats, and enclosed trailers. (This does not include trailers with fifth-wheel type trailers).
  • Commercial trucks towing an empty, single 53-foot box-type trailer.
  • All mobile homes, office trailers and livestock trailers.
  • All long combination vehicles (LCV) that include double-trailer combinations exceeding 90 feet in length. (Enclosed trailers only, including Conestoga type trailers).
  • All LCV triple-trailer combinations.
  • Two-axle buses longer than 40 feet.
  • Buses with three or more axles greater than 45 feet.

The travel ban will not impact the following vehicles:

  • Passenger cars and pickup trucks.
  • Commercial trucks towing a loaded, single 53-foot trailer.
  • Self-propelled motor homes.
  • Low-profile trailers.
  • Fold-down camper trailers.
  • Pickup trucks with slide-on camper units.
  • Vehicles towing fifth-wheel type trailers or any other type of trailers towed by passenger vehicles or pickup trucks that are not listed in the “prohibited” vehicles section above.
  • Commercial trucks towing a single flatbed or tanker trailer.
  • Commercial trucks towing a car hauler trailer.
  • Commercial trucks towing flatbed double-trailer combinations.
  • Commercial trucks towing any double-trailer combinations less than 90 feet.
  • Two-axle buses less than 40 feet.
  • Buses with three or more axles less than 45 feet.

The travel restriction will be continuously evaluated throughout the weather event.

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