After more than four decades, justice has been served for the brutal 1982 murder of 15-year-old Karen Stitt of Palo Alto. Gary Ramirez, 78, of Maui, Hawaii, has been sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years. This sentence follows a no-contest plea entered by Ramirez in February.
On September 2, 1982, Karen Stitt was attacked and murdered in Sunnyvale, California, near El Camino Real and Wolfe Road. Her body was discovered the next morning, showing signs of sexual assault and more than 50 stab wounds.
Ramirez was arrested in 2022 after DNA evidence linked him to the crime, finally bringing closure to a case that had remained unsolved for over 40 years. The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office announced the sentencing on Monday, marking the end of a long pursuit of justice for Stitt and her family.
The case serves as a reminder of the power of DNA evidence in solving cold cases and delivering long-delayed justice.
