Cold Case Solved: 1982 Murder Conviction After DNA Breakthrough

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Cold Case Solved: 1982 Murder Conviction After DNA Breakthrough

A small metal cigarette case with a labeled top, resting on a white surface.
Christine Miller
Christine Miller
2 Min.

Cold Case Solved: 1982 Murder Conviction After DNA Breakthrough

A 64-year-old man has been convicted of murdering 13-year-old Sarah Geer in 1982. James Unick was found guilty on February 13, 2025—what would have been Sarah's 57th birthday. The breakthrough came after decades of silence, using modern DNA techniques to finally link him to the crime.

Sarah Geer was raped and strangled in Cloverdale, California, on May 23, 1982. Her body was discovered the next morning behind a fence near an apartment building. Despite collecting evidence, including sperm from her underwear, the case stalled for years as the DNA did not match anyone in law enforcement databases.

The investigation was reopened in 2021 with the FBI's assistance. Using genetic genealogy, detectives narrowed their search to the Unick brothers, including James. A discarded cigarette later provided a DNA match to samples found on Sarah's clothing.

Unick was arrested in July 2024 but claimed no memory of Sarah or the events surrounding her death. The jury rejected his defence, delivering a guilty verdict in February 2025.

Unick will now serve life in prison without parole. The sentence follows the special circumstance of sexual assault during the murder. After 43 years, Sarah Geer's family finally has closure in a case that once seemed unsolvable.