CA - Christine Munro, 37, Redding, nurse attacked while jogging, 24 June 1995 *arrest in 2020*

[imstilla.grandma]

Redding Police Department

Redding police have announced that the arrest and charging of a suspect discovered through DNA evidence that was reanalyzed with new forensic technology this year in the 25-year-old murder of Christine Munro.

Munro was 37 when she was raped and stabbed to death 25 years ago in the Northern California town of Redding. Police are now saying that they believe her killer was just 17 when he committed the crime.
Man Charged in the 1995 Rape & Murder of Christine Munro | Heavy.com

 

[Luckyzmom]

Thanks very [email protected], nice to see you here again I hope you are doing well.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Breaking News | Cold-case murder of mother-of-four nurse solved after DNA matched to Texas inmate

 

[dotr]

Cold-case murder of mother-of-four nurse solved after DNA matched to Texas inmate | Daily Mail Online

Watkins was just 17 years old and living in Sacramento at the time of the murder in June 1995

James Watkins, 42

 

[imstilla.grandma]

She was found dead with someone else’s DNA under her fingernails, suggesting that she had tried to fight off her attacker, police said.

But for years, authorities were unable to find a match until they resubmitted the evidence in January to the Department of Justice.

The DNA analysis returned a potential match for Watkins, who is serving a 14-year sentence for robbery in a Texas state prison, authorities said.

“Detectives immediately went to work reviewing Watkins’ history and whereabouts, before, during, and after the murder of Christine Munro,” police said. “They learned that Watkins moved to Redding from Texas in early 1995 at the age of 17 to live with his aunt and uncle.”

Detectives flew to Texas to interview Watkins and carry out a search warrant for his DNA to compare it to the evidence — which testing confirmed was a match.

Watkins was extradited Friday to California’s Shasta County jail, where he’s facing charges that include rape, kidnapping and murder, authorities said.

Police in a statement thanked Munro’s family for “support during this investigation.”

“We sincerely hope this brings you some measure of closure,” police said. “The Redding Police Department will never stop pursuing justice for our victims, no matter how long it takes.”
https://nypost.com/2020/11/16/california-police-solve-cold-case-of-christine-munros-1995-murder/

 

[imstilla.grandma]

*July 27, 2021:

Christine Munroe
REDDING – On July 26, 2021, James Earl Watkins pled guilty to the 1995 cold case murder of Christine Munro, 37, and will receive three life sentences without the possibility of parole. Watkins pled guilty to first-degree murder and admitted to 3 special allegations for kidnapping, robbery and lying in wait. In addition, Watkins waived all of his appeal rights. He will be sentenced on August 25, 2021 at the Shasta County Superior Court.

James Earl Watkins Pleads Guilty to 1995 Murder

REDDING – On July 26, 2021, James Earl Watkins pled guilty to the 1995 cold case murder of Christine Munro, 37, and will receive three life sentences without the possibility of parole. Watkins pled guilty to first-degree murder and admitted to 3 special allegations for kidnapping, robbery and...

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