Arizona man arrested in connection with 1991 kidnapping, murder in California

PHOENIX — DNA analysis led to an Arizona man being arrested Friday in connection with the kidnapping and murder of a California woman more than 30 years ago, authorities said.

The Placer County Sheriff’s Office identified the man taken into custody for the murder of Cindy Wanner as 64-year-old James Lawhead Jr., who was discovered to be living in Bullhead City under the identity Vincent Reynolds.

Lawhead was booked into jail in Arizona, but will be extradited to Placer County to face charges related to the homicide.

“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,” Placer County Sheriff Wayne Woo said in a news release. “This breakthrough and arrest reflect the commitment of our office to solve cases; it’s why we pin the badge and take the oath to serve.”

In addition, Lawhead’s sister, 71-year-old Terry Lawhead Steele, was arrested Saturday in South Carolina on an accessory charge as Lawhead was found to be living in a home she owned, police said.

Despite Steele telling law enforcement she hadn’t heard from Lawhead in more than 20 years, evidence indicated the two remained in communication.

What led to the Arizona man being arrested for the 1991 California murder?

On Nov. 25, 1991, Wanner disappeared from her home in Granite Bay, leaving behind her crying 11-month-old baby and other belongings.

Wanner was found strangled to death three weeks later in a remote area, which was 40 miles from where she was kidnapped.

Lawhead was 30 years old at the time and had just been released from prison after serving 11 years for prior sex crimes that involved a child.

Over the years, investigators submitted multiple items for testing that never resulted in any leads. However, a final piece of evidence that detectives submitted to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office forensic lab identified Lawhead as the suspect, according to authorities.

Detectives began to look for Lawhead, but there was no documented record of him since 2005, leading investigators to believe he assumed a new identity. With the help of the Scottsdale Police Department and a facial recognition comparison match, detectives were able to locate Lawhead in Bullhead City living under the false name.

He was interviewed by police, and additional evidence was collected at his residence through a search warrant, police said.

“This arrest is a powerful reminder that time does not erase responsibility, and it does not diminish our commitment,” Placer County District Attorney Morgan Gire said. “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.”

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