SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A man was arrested Friday in connection with a murder from over 40 years ago in South Sacramento.
Robert Lee Terry, 81, was taken into custody after DNA evidence pointed to him as a suspect in the Aug. 28, 1980 stabbing of Helen Terry, according to the Sacramento Police Department. She was found stabbed to death in her apartment on Wyndham Drive, where she lived with her 1-year-old son, police said.
At the time, her son was believed to be the biological child of Robert Terry, though he denied paternity and was involved in a paternity suit she filed for child support, the department said.
Her son was alone in the apartment when she was discovered, according to law enforcement. The initial investigation allegedly did not yield enough evidence to either identify or charge a suspect.
In 2016, the department said it reopened the case as part of a cold case initiative, and evidence from the scene was processed by the crime lab. DNA allegedly pointed to Robert Terry as a suspect, but there was still not enough evidence warranted to proceed with charges, police said.
The Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office cold case, science and technology unit recently revealed new information, which provided the necessary evidence to file charges, according to law enforcement. Robert Terry was arrested and booked late Friday into Sacramento County Main Jail, officers said.
He faces one murder charge and is ineligible for bail, jail records show. He is expected to appear Thursday afternoon in Sacramento County Superior Court.
“The Sacramento Police Department remains committed to seeking justice for victims of violent crime, no matter how much time has passed,” officers said in a news release.
Police said anyone with information regarding the investigation can call 916-808-5471 or Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at 916-443-4357. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward up to $1,000. Anonymous tips can also be submitted with the “P3 Tips” smartphone app.
