Gary Ramirez convicted in 1982 murder of Karen Stitt

Gary Ramirez, a 78-year-old man, has been convicted of the 1982 murder of 15-year-old Karen Stitt in Sunnyvale, California. Stitt was last seen alive walking to a bus stop after visiting her boyfriend; her body was discovered the next morning, showing signs of a brutal attack including 59 stab wounds. Modern DNA technology played a crucial role in linking Ramirez to the crime after he was identified through genetic genealogy in 2019. He was arrested in Hawaii in 2022 and subsequently pleaded no contest to the charges. Ramirez faces a life sentence, with his sentencing scheduled for May 12, 2025. The case has profoundly impacted the local community, which remembers Stitt as a vibrant young girl who was tragically lost too soon.