After 25 Years, Arrest Made In Rape and Killing of California Nurse Christine Munro

Authorities say after interviewing dozens of witnesses, potential suspects and spending hundreds of hours collecting evidence, they finally have someone in custody for this brutal murder.

November 19, 2020

According to a recent Redding Police news conference, in 2019, a new detective was assigned to review Christine's case. In early 2020, Detective Rusty Bishop combed over the evidence and re-submitted pieces of DNA, fingernails specifically. It took six months, but there was a positive match made in the Department of Justice's system. The suspect wasn't hard to find because he was behind bars.

Photo: Christine Munro [Redding Police Department]

James Earl Watkins [Redding Police Department]

Investigators say through DNA they were able to link 42-year-old James Earl Watkins to the case. At the time of the murder, Watkins was only 17. He was tracked down to a Texas prison where he was serving a 14-year sentence after being convicted of multiple crimes including sexual assault, escape, burglarly and bank robbery. Authorities say over the years Watkins has spent a significant portion of his life in prison.

Photo: James Earl Watkins [Redding Police Department]

For Munro's case, Watkins is now charged with rape, kidnapping and murder. PEOPLE reports the case is filed in juvenile court, because he was a minor at the time of the murder, but the report says it will "likely be moved to adult court, a process that could take months." The death penalty will not be pursued, the report adds. Watkins currently sits inside the Shasta County Jail after he was extradited.

Photo: James Earl Watkins [Redding Police Department]

Munro's daughter, only identified as Lisa to WSBTV spoke out at the press conference, “Not a single day goes by that I don’t think about the day my mom was murdered, the manner in which she was taken from us and the pain this has caused our family. There are simply no words to describe the sadness and grief our family has endured.”

Photo: Christine Munro [Redding Police Department]

During the same press conference and follow up post on Facebook the Redding Police Department says this to Munro's family, "We know it has been a long time since the loss of Christine. Thank you for your support during this investigation. We sincerely hope this brings you some measure of closure."
"The Redding Police Department will never stop pursuing justice for our victims, no matter how long it takes," Chief Bill Schueller conclude

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In the summer of 1995, 37-year-old nurse Christine Munro disappeared in Redding, CA. The mother of four was out for a run along the vast Sacramento River Trail on June 24 when police say she was attacked, raped and murdered. An original report says Murno was discovered five feet from the river's edge, 30 feet from the main trail and her body was partially clothed.
There have been plenty of twists and turns over the last two decades, including a convicted rapist who fasley confessed to her murder, but finally after all these years there's an arrest.

Photo: Christine Munro [Redding Police Department]