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California authorities have announced an arrest in a 35-year-old cold case in which a mother mysteriously vanished from her home, leaving behind her young child and all of her belongings. 

James Lawhead Jr., 64, was arrested in Bullhead City, Ariz., on Friday and faces charges stemming from the 1991 kidnapping and murder of Cindy Wanner, according to the Placer County Sheriff’s Office. 

“This is one of the most notorious and heinous cold cases we have here in Placer County. We’ve never given up pursuing justice for Cindy and her family, we hope this is a small step in the healing process,” Placer County Sheriff Wayne Woo said in a statement.

Wagner was 35 years old when she disappeared from her home in Granite Bay, Calif., on Nov. 25, 1991. She left her 11-month-old alone in a highchair, along with her car, shoes and coat.

PARTY PREP TALE FALLS APART AS HUSBAND CHARGED IN WIFE’S DECADES-OLD COLD CASE MURDER

Three weeks later, her body was found in a remote area near Foreshill roughly 40 miles from her home. 

Authorities determined Wagner had been strangled.

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The search for Wagner’s killer ran cold, until authorities submitted a final piece of evidence to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office for DNA testing to name Lawhead as a suspect, officials said. 

Lawhead, who was 30 at the time of Wagner’s alleged murder, had been released from prison in 1991 after serving 11 years behind bars for sex crimes involving a child.

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Authorities noted that he had seemingly vanished, pointing to a staggering lack of documentation involving his whereabouts that had not been updated since 2005. 

The revelation led authorities to determine Lawhead had likely assumed a new identity and, by working with local law enforcement agencies in areas where he was believed to have been living, investigators used facial recognition to find a match.

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Detectives subsequently uncovered that Lawhead had been living in Bullhead City, Ariz., under the name Vincent Reynolds. 

He was subsequently taken into custody with assistance from the Bullhead City Police Department and booked into an Arizona jail, according to authorities. He is expected to be extradited to Placer County to face charges.

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The investigation also led to the arrest of Lawhead’s 71-year-old sister, Terry Lawhead Steele, authorities added.

Steele was arrested in South Carolina on Saturday on an accessory charge.

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“Although Steele had spoken with law enforcement several times over the years, including with our detectives just weeks ago, and claimed she had not heard from her brother in more than 20 years, investigators discovered James Lawhead had been living in a home she owned,” authorities said. “Evidence also showed the two had remained in communication.” 

Authorities are now investigating whether Lawhead is responsible for similar crimes in the area, according to police.

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It is not yet clear whether Lawhead has retained an attorney. 

“This arrest is a powerful reminder that time does not erase responsibility, and it does not diminish our commitment,” Placer County District Attorney Morgan Gire said. “Cold cases are not forgotten cases — they remain urgent, they remain personal, and they remain a promise we intend to keep. 

The Placer County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

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A Chicago alderman says the state’s no-cash bail law has been “utterly manipulated and abused,” and is calling for changes after a felon on pretrial release allegedly killed a police officer inside a hospital.

Alphanso Talley, 27, was charged on Monday after allegedly killing 38-year-old Chicago Police Department officer John Bartholomew at Swedish Hospital on Saturday, and injuring another officer in a shooting.

Talley allegedly shot both officers around 11 a.m. at the hospital, where officials said he was taken into custody for a previous armed robbery. While he was being taken to a CT scan, prosecutors said he had a gun underneath his blanket, which he pulled out and then shot both officers.

He was wanted after allegedly robbing a Family Dollar store on Saturday morning and pistol-whipping one of their female employees, taking her wallet and keys.

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Chicago Alderman Raymond Lopez, a Democrat, told Fox News Digital that the SAFE-T act, the law that eliminated cash bail in Illinois, needs to be overhauled after Saturday’s shooting, which was allegedly committed by someone who was on pretrial release.

“It absolutely needs to be amended because I think while the intention was good, not forcing people to sit in jail because they couldn’t afford bond on minor crimes, it has been utterly manipulated and abused by dangerous violent repeat offenders who have no regard for the sanctity of human life, no regard for property, and no intention of ever following the law,” Lopez said.

Alphanso Talley’s prior convictions (Illinois Department of Corrections records):

• Possession/aiding and abetting a stolen motor vehicle (entered prison: Oct. 2, 2023)
• Aggravated battery of a peace officer (entered prison: Oct. 2, 2023)
• Unlawful use or possession of a firearm by a felon with a prior conviction (entered prison: July 19, 2021)
• Aggravated robbery — indicating while armed with a firearm (entered prison: Nov. 1, 2017)
• Aggravated robbery — indicating while armed with a firearm (entered prison: Nov. 1, 2017)
• Aggravated robbery — indicating while armed with a firearm (entered prison: Nov. 1, 2017)
• Aggravated robbery — indicating while armed with a firearm (entered prison: Nov. 1, 2017)

Prosecutors say Talley’s prior gun conviction from 2021 and four aggravated robbery convictions from 2017 make him eligible for a charge of unlawful possession of a weapon by a repeat offender.

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When Talley was accused of murdering Bartholomew and shooting another officer, he was out of jail on pretrial release for a previous armed robbery case.

A warrant for his arrest was issued on March 11 while he was on pretrial release for the alleged armed robbery.

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Lopez said people like Talley don’t deserve to get pretrial release, arguing he should have remained locked up until his trial.

“Those individuals do not deserve to enjoy any kind of sympathy from us, the law-abiding citizens of Illinois, after they commit their fourth, fifth, eighth, twelfth, seventieth crimes, because what they’ve already shown us is a willingness to continue the pattern of illegal criminal violent behavior,” Lopez said.

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Part of the issue, Lopez argues, is that judges aren’t correctly using someone’s criminal history when making a determination on if someone should remain in jail until their trial.

“Judges are not seeing the full breadth and scope of what’s going on in someone’s criminal history — or they’re not allowed to use that in making their determination. And that is what is allowing these individuals who oftentimes have multiple arrests to go and get electronic monitoring and be sent home,” he said.

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Retired Chicago Police Chief of Detectives Eugene Roy told Fox News Digital that this incident is a glaring example showing why Illinois’ no-cash bail law needs to be changed, and how the system failed Bartholomew.

“Here’s a guy who’s accused of a violent crime and armed robbery and he’s allowed back out on the streets and then he cuts off his electronic monitoring device. And that is a deliberate act that calls for revocation of the bond,” Roy said.

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Talley was charged with murder, attempted murder, aggravated unlawful restraint, armed robbery, aggravated discharge of a firearm, possession of a firearm by a felon, aggravated battery of a peace officer, aggravated battery, escape and unlawful use of a weapon.

Fox News’ Patrick McGovern contributed to this report.

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A Texas man was arrested after repeatedly trying to breach CIA headquarters over the course of four days, telling officers he believed he was “intended” to be there despite multiple warnings to stay away.

Federal authorities charged Connor Lynn Mayo with criminal trespass after investigators say he drove up to the CIA’s main gate in Langley, Virginia, multiple times between April 24 and 27, according to court documents obtained by FOX5 DC.

Mayo most recently approached the facility around 9:40 a.m. Monday, according to court records, driving past posted warning signs and visitor detours in a white Hyundai Elantra with Texas plates.

As a CIA police officer questioned Mayo, he was unable to provide suitable identification and tried to speed away, WUSA9 reported, citing the charging documents. Mayo was eventually stopped when the officer used a diversionary tactic.

FEDERAL AUTHORITIES CHARGE PAIR WHO ALLEGEDLY HELPED ICE FACILITY ATTACKER ESCAPE AFTER SHOOTING

After running Mayo’s license plate, CIA police said they recognized him as the same individual they believed was involved in two earlier incidents.

On April 24, Mayo allegedly drove up to the main entrance and was ordered to leave. Two days later, authorities say he returned and “piggy-backed” behind an authorized vehicle to slip past a security barrier. Officers issued him a citation at the time and warned him he would be arrested if he came back.

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Despite the warning, Mayo returned Monday, leading to his arrest.

When questioned, Mayo allegedly admitted he knew he was trespassing and acknowledged he had been warned previously not to return. He told officers he believed he was “intended to be at CIA,” documents state.

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Investigators said Mayo also told officers he had visited the Pentagon the day before and expressed a desire to be taken into custody.

Authorities have not indicated a motive for the repeated attempts. The investigation remains ongoing.

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Good morning and welcome to Fox News’ morning newsletter, Fox News First. And here’s what you need to know to start your day …

TOP 3

1. Former FBI director James Comey faces new indictment 

2. King Charles gifts piece of history with personal ties to Trump

3. Thune rips Johnson for sitting on DHS bill as shutdown hits 74 days
 

MAJOR HEADLINES

SHOWDOWN — President Trump sets hard line, warns Iran to comply with key demand as tensions escalate.Continue reading …

ROYAL RECEPTION — Trump was at his ‘very best’ welcoming King Charles to the White House, experts say.Continue reading …

BASELESS BUZZ — Conspiracy theories flood social media after alleged gunman targets Trump at gala.Continue reading …

BLITZ PACKAGE — FBI raids on alleged Somali fraudsters prompts stunning response from ex-Vikings star. Continue reading …

SAFARI SHOCK — Engagement trip ends in tragedy as missing ring fuels new questions.Continue reading …

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TPS TERMINATIONS — Supreme Court weighs Trump effort to terminate temporary protections for Haitian, Syrian migrants. Continue reading …

HOUSE OF CARDS — Johnson scrambles as Trump, Senate Republicans push House to fund DHS. Continue reading …

NEXT IN LINE — Warsh faces first big test on Capitol Hill as Trump’s Fed vision comes into focus. Continue reading …

NARRATIVE WARFARE — UN-backed data undercuts viral Gaza famine claims as child malnutrition falls.Continue reading …

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DOUBLE STANDARD — UCLA official warns conservative law students they face discipline for identifying liberal protesters.Continue reading …

NATION ON EDGE — Stephen A Smith rips ‘lip service’ on civility after being at WHCA Dinner shooting.Continue reading …

‘JUST DO YOUR JOB’ — Critics roast Chuck Todd for blaming Trump after WHCA Dinner shooting.Continue reading …

ON NOTICE — FCC calls in Disney’s ABC stations for early license review amid Kimmel saga. Continue reading …

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ARTHUR HERMAN — Trump has Iran on the ropes — and critics still don’t get his edge. Continue reading … 

JASON CHAFFETZ — A decade of Secret Service failure proves the agency is still in crisis. Continue reading …

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LOCKER ROOM DOUBT — Former PR exec predicts Vrabel resignation as new images with Dianna Russini pile up. Continue reading …

SNACK ATTACK — Dementia risk rises with common food type millions eat every day. Continue reading …

AMERICAN CULTURE QUIZ — Test yourself on baseball bests and restaurant revamps. Take the quiz here …

SUNKEN SECRETS — Long-lost warship destroyed by iconic naval commander discovered centuries later. Continue reading …

TOO HOT TO HANDLE — Lightning strikes dinosaur attraction. See video …

WATCH

KING CHARLES III — We stand united in our commitment to uphold democracy. See video …

SEN. ERIC SCHMITT — ‘Trump derangement syndrome’ has metastasized after WHCA Dinner. See video …

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A Florida man is facing attempted murder charges after allegedly shooting a woman in the neck and dragging her back into her home, authorities said.

Officers with the Wildwood Police Department responded around 11:30 p.m. Saturday to reports of an argument followed by a gunshot, according to an arrest report cited by WKMG.

When police arrived, they found a woman with a gunshot wound to the neck lying in a driveway. She was airlifted to a hospital with life-threatening injuries.

FLORIDA MAN WHO WAS HALF-NAKED, ‘HIGH ON METH’ BREAKS INTO HOME, GRABS CARPET CLEANER

Robert Anthony Morgan, 40, was arrested and charged with attempted felony murder, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and discharging a firearm in public or on residential property.

Police said Morgan was seen crawling under a partially open garage door before jumping into a backyard pool. Officers pulled him from the water and took him into custody.

The victim’s mother told investigators there was a history of domestic violence between Morgan and the victim. She said she saw him drag the woman back onto the property after the shooting, according to WKMG.

BODY CAMERA VIDEO SHOWS POLICE OFFICER ALLEGEDLY KIDNAPPED BY ARMED ROBBERY SUSPECT IN ROADSIDE SHOWDOWN

When she asked if he had called for help, Morgan allegedly replied, “She’s fine,” and threatened to shoot her if she contacted police.

Authorities recovered a rifle from the garage floor and found blood in the street leading to the home, WESH reported.

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The woman’s four children were inside the home at the time of the incident, according to reports.

Morgan, who has a prior conviction for felony battery, made an initial court appearance Monday and is being held without bond.