NewsCalifornia News

Actions

Texas man pleads guilty to 1995 killing of California jogger

Gavel (FILE)
Posted
and last updated

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A Texas man who has spent much of his life in prison has pleaded guilty to the 1995 killing of a woman who was attacked as she jogged near the Sacramento River in California.

Shasta County prosecutors say 42-year-old James Earl Watkins pleaded guilty Monday to first-degree murder with allegations of robbery, kidnapping and lying in wait.

Redding police say DNA evidence from scraping under the victim's fingernails linked Watkins to the killing of Christine Munro, a 37-year-old mother of four.

Authorities say Watkins once lived in Redding but as of last year was serving a 14-year prison sentence in Texas for robbery.

,

Weather

Daily Forecast

View Hourly Forecast

Day

Conditions

HI / LO

Precip

Thursday

02/06/2025

Showers

71° / 53°

73%

Friday

02/07/2025

Partly Cloudy

61° / 41°

10%

Saturday

02/08/2025

Partly Cloudy

57° / 40°

8%

Sunday

02/09/2025

Partly Cloudy

58° / 37°

6%

Monday

02/10/2025

Mostly Sunny

58° / 35°

6%

Tuesday

02/11/2025

Partly Cloudy

58° / 38°

5%

Wednesday

02/12/2025

Showers

55° / 47°

42%

Thursday

02/13/2025

Showers

61° / 48°

50%