- Sonoma County District Attorney's OfficeMore than four decades after a teenager was murdered in California, DNA found on a discarded cigarette has helped authorities catch her killer. Nearly 44 years after Sarah’s murder, a jury found James Unick, 64, guilty of killing her on February 13. Genetic genealogy, which combines DNA evidence and traditional genealogy, helped match Unick’s DNA from a cigarette butt to DNA found on Sarah’s clothing, according to prosecutors. AdvertisementA DNA analysis of the cigarette confirmed James Unick’s DNA matched the 2003 profile, along with other DNA samples collected from Sarah’s clothing the day she was killed. Following two hours of deliberations, the jury rejected Unick’s account of events and convicted him of murder, prosecutors said.

Source: CNN February 22, 2026 16:38 UTC