Placer County Cold Case Murder Defendant James Lawhead Jr. Admits Guilt and is Convicted in a 34-Year-Old Kidnapping and Murder Case 

June 17, 2026 – ROSEVILLE, CA – Placer County Sheriff's Office officials report that on June 16, 2026, James Lawhead Jr. entered a plea of guilty to the murder and kidnapping of a local woman and admitted the special circumstance allegations that the murder occurred during the commission of a kidnapping and a rape. As part of the resolution, Lawhead also admitted an independent count of kidnapping, agreed to waive his appellate rights, and accepted a term of life in prison without the possibility of parole. 

The conviction brings a measure of accountability to one of the most notorious cold cases in Placer County history.

On November 25, 1991, the victim was abducted from a Granite Bay residence while caring for her 11-month-old. Her child was left behind in a highchair, while the victim was forcibly taken from the home. Three weeks later, her body was discovered in a remote area near Foresthill. The case remained unsolved for more than three decades despite extensive investigative efforts.

Related: Placer County Sheriff Reports Arrest Made After 34 Years in Cold Case Murder of Cindy Wanner (Video)

This swift conviction is the result of dedicated investigative work by the Placer County Sheriff's Office Cold Case Unit, a partnership that includes a dedicated investigator from the Placer County District Attorney’s Office.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 14 in Department 20 at 8:30 a.m.

Source: Placer County Sheriff's Office