Man charged In 29-year-old murder case back In Lee County
A man charged in an 1981 murder case has been returned to Lee County.
James Edward Sims, 66, is in custody in the Lee County Jail, officials said Sunday.
Extradited from California where he had been living under an assumed name, Sims has been charged in the 1981 murder of Roy Radabaugh.
Radabaugh was shot to death “execution style” on Jan. 18, 1981 during an argument over a woman in the parking lot of what was then known as the Fox Den Lounge at 3224 Fowler Street in Fort Myers.
Radabaugh was 29 years old at the time.
Sims was identified as a suspect, but by then had skipped town, officials said, adding he was subsequently able to assume a new identity and a new life.
Sims’ life on the run came to an end thanks to the tireless pursuit of Myra Simmons, a civilian analyst with the Cold Case Unit, officials said.
Simmons was able to pinpoint Sims in California, even using the thumb print on his California driver license to positively identify him.
Detectives flew to California to stake out his residence and took him into custody the morning of July 2, 2010.
“This is a significant apprehension,” said Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott, who has dedicated several detectives and analysts to the Cold Case Unit, in a prepared statement released earlier this month. “Even though this murder happened 29 years ago, the victim’s family has not forgotten and we have not forgotten.”
Lt. Bill Kalstrom, a supervisor with the Cold Case Unit, called the arrest “very rewarding,” and added “this is the perfect example of the type of case this Unit was set up for.”
Sims is charged with First Degree Murder.
Source: Lee County Sheriff’s Office