Cold Case Breakthrough: Murder Suspect Arrested After 34 Years
April 29, 2026 – Placer County Sheriff’s Office officials report that after 34 years, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office has arrested 64-year-old James Lawhead Jr. in connection with the 1991 kidnapping and murder of Cindy Wanner, marking a major breakthrough in one of Placer County’s most well-known cold cases.
The arrest on Friday, April 24, 2026, comes after years of investigative work by the Placer County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit and a breakthrough in DNA testing. After numerous items were submitted for testing over the years without results, detectives submitted a final piece of evidence to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Lab, where advanced DNA analysis identified Lawhead as the suspect.
Cindy Wanner was 35 years old when she vanished from a Granite Bay home on November 25, 1991. Her 11-month-old baby was left crying in a highchair, while her shoes, coat, and car were all left behind. Her disappearance sparked a massive investigation and shook the community. Three weeks later, she was found strangled to death in a remote area outside Foresthill, approximately 40 miles from where she was kidnapped.
Lawhead was 30 years old at the time of the crime. He had been released from prison in early 1991 after serving 11 years of a 19-year sentence for prior sex crimes involving a young child.
Once detectives identified Lawhead as the suspect, investigators began working to locate him. He appeared to have vanished, with no documented record of him since 2005. As detectives dug deeper, they came to believe Lawhead had assumed a new identity. Detectives reached out to law enforcement agencies in areas where they believed he may have been living, and with assistance from the Scottsdale Police Department, a facial recognition comparison led to a match.
Detectives located Lawhead in Bullhead City, Arizona, on Friday, April 24, where he had been living under the name Vincent Reynolds. With assistance from the Bullhead City Police Department, Lawhead was taken into custody and booked into jail in Arizona. He will be extradited to Placer County to face charges.
Following Lawhead’s arrest, detectives interviewed him and served a search warrant at his Arizona residence, where additional evidence was collected.
On Saturday, April 25, Lawhead’s 71-year-old sister, Terry Lawhead Steele, was arrested in South Carolina on an accessory charge, with assistance from the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office. Following her arrest, Placer County Sheriff’s Office detectives served a search warrant at her San Clemente home on Sunday, April 26.
Although Steele had spoken with law enforcement several times over the years, including with our detectives just weeks ago, and claimed she had not heard from her brother in more than 20 years, investigators discovered James Lawhead had been living in a home she owned. Evidence also showed the two had remained in communication.
“This is one of the most notorious and heinous cold cases we have here in Placer County. We’ve never given up pursuing justice for Cindy and her family, we hope this is a small step in the healing process,” said Placer County Sheriff Wayne Woo. “This breakthrough and arrest reflect the commitment of our office to solve cases; it’s why we pin on the badge and take the oath to serve. Our work is not done, James Lawhead will be brought back to Placer County where he will answer to the charges for this crime.”
The investigation has been conducted alongside the Placer County District Attorney's Office, which has partnered with detectives as the case moved toward arrest and prosecution.
“This arrest is a powerful reminder that time does not erase responsibility, and it does not diminish our commitment,” said Placer County District Attorney Morgan Gire. “Cold cases are not forgotten cases—they remain urgent, they remain personal, and they remain a promise we intend to keep. This crime devastated a family and shook an entire community. For years, they have carried the weight of unanswered questions. Today does not erase that pain, but it does move us closer to the truth and to accountability. To victims and families: we see you, we remember, and we stand with you. Your resilience is extraordinary, and your voices matter. Even when the path is long and difficult, there is hope. We will continue this work—steadfast and unwavering—because you deserve answers, you deserve justice, and you deserve to know that you are never forgotten.”
View video here.
Detectives are now exploring the possibility that James Lawhead Jr. could be responsible for additional crimes. We encourage law enforcement agencies, specifically those across the west coast, to look at any cold cases that may have similarities to this case and reach out to our team at 530-889-7835.
For 34 years, investigators continued pursuing answers in Cindy Wanner’s murder, never allowing the case to be forgotten. These arrests represent a significant step toward justice for Cindy and for the family who has waited decades for answers.
Our hearts are with Cindy’s family, for all they have endured, for all they have missed with Cindy, and for healing as they continue to move forward.
Watch the video below to learn more about the case and the work that led to this breakthrough.
View press conference video here.
Placer County DA’s Statement:
Placer County District Attorney’s Office files murder charge with special circumstances in cold case against violent sex offender
AUBURN, CA – The Placer County District Attorney’s Office has charged James Lawhead Jr. with one count of murder, along with two special circumstances: murder during the commission of a rape and murder during the commission of a kidnapping.
He is also charged with an independent count of kidnapping. Mr. Lawhead was originally identified and arrested through the work of the Placer County Sheriff’s Cold Case unit, which includes a Placer County District Attorney’s Office investigator. This case reflects years of persistent investigative efforts to bring long-awaited accountability.
Mr. Lawhead is currently awaiting extradition to Placer County, where he will be arraigned on these charges.
Source & photo: Placer County Sheriff’s Office
