64-year-old arrested over 1991 cold case murder
The 35-year mystery surrounding the disappearance and death of Cindy Wanner has finally reached a major turning point. On Monday, April 27, 2026, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office announced a breakthrough that true crime followers have awaited for decades: the arrest of 64-year-old James Lawhead Jr.
For many in Northern California, the name Cindy Wanner evokes a chilling image from November 1991—a quiet home, an abandoned infant, and a trail that went cold for over a third of a century.
The Disappearance: A Mother Vanishes
On November 25, 1991, 35-year-old Cindy Wanner was at her sister’s home in Granite Bay, California.
The Scene: Cindy’s 11-month-old daughter was found crying, strapped into her high chair, completely alone.
Missing Clues: Cindy’s car, keys, shoes, and coat were all still at the house.
There were no signs of a struggle. The Discovery: Three weeks later, a hunter discovered Cindy’s body in a remote, wooded area near Foresthill, approximately 40 miles away.
She had been strangled to death. Despite massive search efforts and hundreds of leads, the case eventually went cold, remaining one of Placer County’s most "heinous and notorious" unsolved mysteries.
The Breakthrough: DNA and Facial Recognition
The arrest of James Lawhead Jr. was not the result of a single tip, but a masterclass in modern forensic synergy. Authorities utilized advanced DNA analysis on evidence preserved since 1991, which finally provided a match to Lawhead.
However, finding Lawhead was another challenge. After a 2005 weapons charge, Lawhead had effectively vanished from public records.
The "Vincent Reynolds" Identity
Investigators discovered that Lawhead had been living under the alias Vincent Reynolds in Bullhead City, Arizona.
When detectives raided his Arizona home, they found:
Multiple loaded firearms.
$15,000 in cash.
A "burner" phone.
A bag packed with clothes, suggesting he was prepared to flee at a moment's notice.
A Dark History: Who is James Lawhead Jr.?
The details of the suspect’s past add a layer of systemic frustration to the tragedy. At the time of the 1991 murder, Lawhead was 30 years old and had been out of prison for only 10 months.
He had previously served 11 years of a 19-year sentence for a brutal 1980 crime involving the beating of an elderly woman and the rape of her 11-year-old granddaughter.
An Alleged Accomplice
The investigation has also extended to Lawhead’s family.
What’s Next for the Case?
James Lawhead Jr. is currently awaiting extradition from Arizona to Placer County.
Murder: (with special circumstances of rape and kidnapping).
Kidnapping: "This family has suffered in anguish for 35 years," said District Attorney Morgan Gire. "Cold cases are not forgotten cases—they remain urgent and personal."
As Lawhead prepares to face a judge, investigators are now looking into his movements over the last 20 years to determine if he may be linked to other unsolved crimes across the West Coast.
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