Ray Dell Sims
California Serial Killer Case
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Fresno, California
TIME PERIOD
1974-1977
VICTIMS
5 confirmed
Ray Dell Sims, an American serial killer, is responsible for the murders of at least five girls in Fresno, California, between 1974 and 1977. The investigation into these crimes intensified after the body of 17-year-old Janet Herstein was discovered near a canal on May 18, 1977, leading to Sims' arrest under the alias David McGown. Initially convicted for Herstein's murder, Sims was later linked to additional killings through DNA evidence in 2001, resulting in his conviction for another murder and the imposition of two life sentences without the possibility of parole. Currently, he is incarcerated at California State Prison, Solano, in Vacaville, California, where he continues to serve his sentence. Significant evidence includes DNA matches from cold case investigations that connected him to multiple unsolved homicides.
Ray Dell Sims is believed to have committed multiple murders of young girls in Fresno, California, with investigators linking him to at least five victims between 1974 and 1977 through DNA evidence. Some community members speculate that Sims may have had a larger number of victims, given the patterns of his crimes and his history of violence against women. Additionally, there are theories suggesting that his abusive behavior towards his wife may have contributed to his violent tendencies and criminal activities.
The Chilling Crimes of Ray Dell Sims
Early Life and First Convictions
In the quiet expanse of Oklahoma in 1935, Ray Dell Sims entered the world, a shadowy figure whose future would be marred by violence and infamy. Little is known about his early years, save for his upbringing in a large family with multiple siblings. As he ventured into adulthood, Sims would embark on a path of crime that would eventually lead him to the streets of Fresno, California.
The first documented glimpse into Sims' criminal tendencies came in July 1965, when he committed a heinous act in East Oakland. During a burglary, he raped a 70-year-old landlady, earning himself a conviction that would mark the beginning of a dark legacy. After serving time in prison, Sims relocated to Fresno in the early 1970s. There, he married Caroline Turner, fathered a daughter, and found employment as a fry cook. However, within the walls of their home, Caroline would later reveal a history of abuse, claiming her husband coerced her into sex and subjected her to physical violence.
The Murder of Janet Herstein
The sinister shadow of Sims' crimes grew darker on May 18, 1977, with the discovery of 17-year-old Janet Herstein. Her body was found near a canal in Mendota by an employee of the United States Bureau of Reclamation. The scene was tragic; lacerations on her body indicated she had been raped and strangled with a cord. Janet, a student at Theodore Roosevelt High School and a newsie for The Fresno Guide, had disappeared two days earlier, reported missing by her worried mother.
As investigators delved into her last known activities, they unraveled a chilling pattern. On her newspaper delivery route, all but one household received their papers, leading detectives to one homeowner—David McGown. He was the last person to see Janet alive. Upon questioning, McGown claimed innocence, but his identity was soon revealed to be an alias for Ray Dell Sims. The evidence was damning, and Sims was arrested, tried, and convicted of Janet's murder. He received a life sentence without the possibility of parole and was sent to San Quentin State Prison.
Connection to Additional Murders
Years later, in 1996, a standard blood sample taken from Sims during ongoing investigations of cold cases would reignite the search for justice. The following year, DNA evidence from the body of another victim matched Sims' genetic profile. This breakthrough led to further DNA testing in November 2001, linking Sims to a male hair found under a ring on the hand of yet another victim. The DNA evidence was conclusive, and Sims faced additional charges.
The trail of violence stretched back to August 22, 1974, with the murder of 17-year-old Kathy Stark. She was raped and killed, her case remaining unsolved until the DNA match. The pattern continued with 15-year-old Elizabeth Ann Ortega, murdered on November 9 of the same year. Seminal fluid found in her underwear linked her death to Sims, an acquaintance who knew Ortega as she was a friend of his wife and had visited their home.
The horror persisted as 18-year-old Robin McCullar was murdered on November 14, 1975, followed by the killing of 15-year-old Eva Hernandez Lucio on June 9, 1976. Eva was last seen walking home from school before her body was discovered in a local vineyard. All victims shared a commonality: they lived in the same neighborhood as Sims and each met their end through strangulation.
In December 2001, Sims was transferred from San Quentin State Prison to Fresno County Jail. He was formally charged with four additional murders and two rapes, yet he maintained his innocence, pleading not guilty to all charges.
Trial and Current Imprisonment
By September 2008, the weight of evidence against Sims culminated in a guilty verdict for the murder of Elizabeth Ann Ortega. The court sentenced him to a second life term the following month. Sitting stoically, Sims showed no emotion as the verdict was read. The death penalty was off the table due to the nationwide moratorium on capital punishment following the Furman v. Georgia decision.
Despite the overwhelming evidence, the Fresno County District Attorney's Office dismissed charges for the remaining murders, concluding that further prosecution was unnecessary given Sims' existing life sentences and unlikely parole. Sims was returned to San Quentin State Prison, where he continues to serve his sentence.
Though suspected in numerous other unsolved cases across regions he inhabited before Fresno, as of March 2025, no additional crimes have been definitively linked to Ray Dell Sims. His legacy remains a grim chapter in the annals of American crime, a reminder of the darkness that can lurk behind the most ordinary of facades.
Sources
For more detailed information, please refer to the original Wikipedia article.
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First Murder: Kathy Stark
17-year-old Kathy Stark is raped and murdered, marking the beginning of Sims' killing spree.
Second Murder: Elizabeth Ortega
15-year-old Elizabeth Ann Ortega is raped and murdered; evidence links her to Sims.
Third Murder: Robin McCullar
18-year-old Robin McCullar is raped and murdered, further escalating the investigation.
Fourth Murder: Eva Hernandez
15-year-old Eva Hernandez Lucio is found murdered, completing a series of killings.
Murder of Janet Herstein
17-year-old Janet Herstein is found murdered, leading to the arrest of Sims.
Sims Arrested
Ray Dell Sims is arrested under the alias David McGown for the murder of Janet Herstein.
DNA Links to Cold Cases
DNA evidence links Sims to multiple murders, leading to new charges.
Guilty Verdict
Sims is found guilty of the murder of Elizabeth Ortega and sentenced to a second life term.
Sentencing
Sims receives a second life sentence for the Ortega murder, with no possibility of parole.
Ray Dell Sims, an American serial killer, is responsible for the murders of at least five girls in Fresno, California, between 1974 and 1977. The investigation into these crimes intensified after the body of 17-year-old Janet Herstein was discovered near a canal on May 18, 1977, leading to Sims' arrest under the alias David McGown. Initially convicted for Herstein's murder, Sims was later linked to additional killings through DNA evidence in 2001, resulting in his conviction for another murder and the imposition of two life sentences without the possibility of parole. Currently, he is incarcerated at California State Prison, Solano, in Vacaville, California, where he continues to serve his sentence. Significant evidence includes DNA matches from cold case investigations that connected him to multiple unsolved homicides.
Ray Dell Sims is believed to have committed multiple murders of young girls in Fresno, California, with investigators linking him to at least five victims between 1974 and 1977 through DNA evidence. Some community members speculate that Sims may have had a larger number of victims, given the patterns of his crimes and his history of violence against women. Additionally, there are theories suggesting that his abusive behavior towards his wife may have contributed to his violent tendencies and criminal activities.
The Chilling Crimes of Ray Dell Sims
Early Life and First Convictions
In the quiet expanse of Oklahoma in 1935, Ray Dell Sims entered the world, a shadowy figure whose future would be marred by violence and infamy. Little is known about his early years, save for his upbringing in a large family with multiple siblings. As he ventured into adulthood, Sims would embark on a path of crime that would eventually lead him to the streets of Fresno, California.
The first documented glimpse into Sims' criminal tendencies came in July 1965, when he committed a heinous act in East Oakland. During a burglary, he raped a 70-year-old landlady, earning himself a conviction that would mark the beginning of a dark legacy. After serving time in prison, Sims relocated to Fresno in the early 1970s. There, he married Caroline Turner, fathered a daughter, and found employment as a fry cook. However, within the walls of their home, Caroline would later reveal a history of abuse, claiming her husband coerced her into sex and subjected her to physical violence.
The Murder of Janet Herstein
The sinister shadow of Sims' crimes grew darker on May 18, 1977, with the discovery of 17-year-old Janet Herstein. Her body was found near a canal in Mendota by an employee of the United States Bureau of Reclamation. The scene was tragic; lacerations on her body indicated she had been raped and strangled with a cord. Janet, a student at Theodore Roosevelt High School and a newsie for The Fresno Guide, had disappeared two days earlier, reported missing by her worried mother.
As investigators delved into her last known activities, they unraveled a chilling pattern. On her newspaper delivery route, all but one household received their papers, leading detectives to one homeowner—David McGown. He was the last person to see Janet alive. Upon questioning, McGown claimed innocence, but his identity was soon revealed to be an alias for Ray Dell Sims. The evidence was damning, and Sims was arrested, tried, and convicted of Janet's murder. He received a life sentence without the possibility of parole and was sent to San Quentin State Prison.
Connection to Additional Murders
Years later, in 1996, a standard blood sample taken from Sims during ongoing investigations of cold cases would reignite the search for justice. The following year, DNA evidence from the body of another victim matched Sims' genetic profile. This breakthrough led to further DNA testing in November 2001, linking Sims to a male hair found under a ring on the hand of yet another victim. The DNA evidence was conclusive, and Sims faced additional charges.
The trail of violence stretched back to August 22, 1974, with the murder of 17-year-old Kathy Stark. She was raped and killed, her case remaining unsolved until the DNA match. The pattern continued with 15-year-old Elizabeth Ann Ortega, murdered on November 9 of the same year. Seminal fluid found in her underwear linked her death to Sims, an acquaintance who knew Ortega as she was a friend of his wife and had visited their home.
The horror persisted as 18-year-old Robin McCullar was murdered on November 14, 1975, followed by the killing of 15-year-old Eva Hernandez Lucio on June 9, 1976. Eva was last seen walking home from school before her body was discovered in a local vineyard. All victims shared a commonality: they lived in the same neighborhood as Sims and each met their end through strangulation.
In December 2001, Sims was transferred from San Quentin State Prison to Fresno County Jail. He was formally charged with four additional murders and two rapes, yet he maintained his innocence, pleading not guilty to all charges.
Trial and Current Imprisonment
By September 2008, the weight of evidence against Sims culminated in a guilty verdict for the murder of Elizabeth Ann Ortega. The court sentenced him to a second life term the following month. Sitting stoically, Sims showed no emotion as the verdict was read. The death penalty was off the table due to the nationwide moratorium on capital punishment following the Furman v. Georgia decision.
Despite the overwhelming evidence, the Fresno County District Attorney's Office dismissed charges for the remaining murders, concluding that further prosecution was unnecessary given Sims' existing life sentences and unlikely parole. Sims was returned to San Quentin State Prison, where he continues to serve his sentence.
Though suspected in numerous other unsolved cases across regions he inhabited before Fresno, as of March 2025, no additional crimes have been definitively linked to Ray Dell Sims. His legacy remains a grim chapter in the annals of American crime, a reminder of the darkness that can lurk behind the most ordinary of facades.
Sources
For more detailed information, please refer to the original Wikipedia article.
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
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First Murder: Kathy Stark
17-year-old Kathy Stark is raped and murdered, marking the beginning of Sims' killing spree.
Second Murder: Elizabeth Ortega
15-year-old Elizabeth Ann Ortega is raped and murdered; evidence links her to Sims.
Third Murder: Robin McCullar
18-year-old Robin McCullar is raped and murdered, further escalating the investigation.
Fourth Murder: Eva Hernandez
15-year-old Eva Hernandez Lucio is found murdered, completing a series of killings.
Murder of Janet Herstein
17-year-old Janet Herstein is found murdered, leading to the arrest of Sims.
Sims Arrested
Ray Dell Sims is arrested under the alias David McGown for the murder of Janet Herstein.
DNA Links to Cold Cases
DNA evidence links Sims to multiple murders, leading to new charges.
Guilty Verdict
Sims is found guilty of the murder of Elizabeth Ortega and sentenced to a second life term.
Sentencing
Sims receives a second life sentence for the Ortega murder, with no possibility of parole.