Suspect in 1987 Homicide of Child Arrested in Gold Hill

In a significant breakthrough in a decades-old cold case, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) detectives have aided California investigators in apprehending a suspect linked to a 1987 cold case homicide that shook the city of Vallejo, California. Fred Cain III, a 69-year-old resident of the 9500 block of Old Stage Road in Gold Hill, was taken into custody on Monday at 4:45 p.m. Cain is facing charges of murder, kidnap, and sodomy in connection with the tragic 1987 murder of a 6-year-old child in Vallejo.

The cold case resurfaced when Cold Case investigators from the Solano County District Attorney’s Office reexamined the events of 1987. Back then, a 6-year-old child had been abducted near his home in Vallejo, and four days later, his body was discovered on Sherman Island in Sacramento County. An autopsy at the time revealed that the child had been sexually assaulted.

Initially, a suspect named Shawn Melton was charged with murder and kidnapping due to his apparent knowledge of details only the perpetrator could possess. However, the case was later dismissed when a jury failed to reach a verdict. Advances in DNA technology subsequently exonerated Mr. Melton and pointed investigators in a new direction.

Solano County District Attorney Krishna Abrams, who took office in 2014, prioritized the Cold Case Unit to bring justice to unsolved homicides.

District Attorney Krishna Abrams expressed her gratitude for the dedicated cold case investigators who pursued leads over the years. She stated, “I am so thankful to have such dedicated cold case investigators that no matter how much time goes by, they remain steadfast in their commitment to solving these horrific cases.”

In the interest of preserving the integrity of the pending case, authorities say no further details will be disclosed at this time.