Man Sentenced to Life for Cold Case Murder of Teen Girl from 1982

A man has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the rape and murder of a 13-year-old girl that occurred in Sonoma County, California, on May 24, 1982. James Unick, now 64 years old, was found guilty by a jury earlier this year after a decades-long investigation.

The case initially went cold following the brutal crime, which took place shortly after Sarah Geer left her friend's house and encountered Unick near an alley off a residential street in Cloverdale. He raped and strangled her with her shorts before leaving her body for a fire department member to discover the next day.

In 2003, DNA evidence collected from the crime scene led investigators to develop a profile that did not match any existing records at the time. However, in 2021, advancements in forensic technology enabled the FBI to analyze the sample and link it to one of four brothers, including Unick. This breakthrough allowed authorities to surveil him and collect DNA from a discarded cigarette he threw away.

Unick was arrested in July 2024 following the confirmation that his DNA matched both the profile created from the crime scene evidence and samples found on Geer’s underwear. During his trial, which concluded with a guilty verdict for murder and sexual assault, Unick testified that Sarah had propositioned him for sex at an arcade, claiming they engaged in consensual activity before he dropped her off.

Judge Laura Passaglia expressed disapproval of Unick's testimony during sentencing on July 10, noting his "audacity to blame the child" for what happened. The District Attorney’s Office emphasized that no sentence could fully address the profound loss and pain endured by Geer’s family over the past four decades.

Sarah Geer was described as a tall and pretty seventh grader who lived with her single mother, who was working towards becoming a registered nurse at the time of Sarah's murder. The tragic case highlights the enduring impact of unresolved crimes on victims' families and communities.

District Attorney Carla Rodriguez stated that while the sentence cannot restore what was lost or alleviate all the suffering endured by Geer’s family, it marks an important step toward justice for the horrific crimes committed against a young girl whose life was cut short. The resolution of this cold case underscores the ongoing advancements in forensic science and their role in solving long-standing criminal investigations.

The conclusion of the prosecution serves as a reminder of the relentless pursuit of justice by law enforcement agencies, even decades after a crime has been committed. It also offers some closure to those who have waited for answers since 1982, though the pain of losing Sarah Geer remains deeply felt.