An arrest was made in a 34-year-old cold case involving the kidnapping and murder of a 35-year-old woman.
James Lawhead Jr., 64, was detained on April 24 at a Bullhead City residence. According to the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, Lawhead was living as Vincent Reynolds.
Lawhead was identified as the suspect by advanced DNA analysis following years of testing. A final piece of evidence supplied to a California forensic lab led investigators to Lawhead.
Cindy Wanner disappeared from her Granite Bay, California, home on November 25, 1991, leaving behind her shoes, coat, and automobile. Her 11-month-old baby was left to cry in a highchair.
Wanner was discovered strangled to death three weeks after her disappearance in a rural place 40 miles from where she was taken.
Lawhead, who was 30 at the time of the kidnapping, was released from jail in 1991 after serving 11 of a 19-year term for sex crimes against a young child.Pathologists at the time believe she was kept alive for some time after going missing. “This is arguably one of the most heinous, notorious cold cases we have here in Placer County,” Placer County Sheriff Wayne Woo stated.
Once identified as the suspect, authorities had no record of Lawhead since 2005. Scottsdale Police assisted in matching him with his new identification using facial recognition technology.Mr. Lawhead lived in Washington, Oregon, and Arizona using an alias. Obviously, our investigators have a lot of work to do to track his activities over the last 20 years and determine whether he has been engaged in any other crimes since then,” Sheriff Woo stated.
Lawhead was detained at the Arizona house and placed into jail while awaiting extradition to Placer County to face charges. The search of the home revealed additional evidence.
On April 25, Lawhead’s 71-year-old sister, Terry Lawhead Steele, was arrested in South Carolina on an accessory charge. The next day, San Clemente police conducted a search of her residence. Placer County authorities found Lawhead residing in Steele’s home, but she claimed she hadn’t heard from her brother in 20 years, despite proof of communication.The passage of time does not imply that justice is less important. “This family has been in anguish for 35 years, and they deserve some accountability,” Placer County District Attorney Morga Gire said.
“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.”
“This arrest is a powerful reminder that time does not erase responsibility, and it does not diminish our commitment,” said 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.”
Officials are investigating whether Lawhead is connected to any further crimes. The Placer County Sheriff’s Office has asked law enforcement departments on the West Coast with similar cold cases to contact them.
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