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DNA Breakthrough Convicts Man for 1982 Murder

2/21/2026

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Story summary
  • James Unick was convicted in California for the 1982 murder of 13-year-old Sarah Geer after DNA from a discarded cigarette matched evidence.
  • Geer was last seen May 23, 1982, and her body was found the next day.
  • Cloverdale Police Department reopened the case in 2021 using genetic genealogy, identifying Unick as a suspect.
  • Unick was arrested July 2024 and convicted February 13, 2026, with sentencing set for April 23, 2026.