On August 2, 2022, Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety (SDPS) Detectives along with members of the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office Cold Case Unit, FBI and Maui PD arrested Gary Gene Ramirez (75 yrs. old) for the murder of Karen Stitt.
For nearly forty years, Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety Detectives vigorously investigated all potential leads related to the case. In 2000, a DNA profile was obtained from physical evidence at the crime scene and run through CODIS (Combined DNA Index System), the FBI's national database, by SDPS. There were no matches.
In 2017, Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety began collaborating with the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office’s Cold Case Unit on the case. Utilizing new investigative techniques, leads were developed and investigated by Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety Detectives. Through meticulous examination of all related evidence and leads, Ramirez eventually was identified as the primary suspect in the murder of Karen Ann Stitt.
Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety Detectives located and arrested Gary Gene Ramirez at his current place of residence in the town of Makawao on the island of Maui. Ramirez’ DNA has since matched evidence located at the crime scene. Ramirez is awaiting extradition back to California where he will face charges of first-degree murder with special circumstances.
The case is still an active investigation. Anyone with additional information about this case is asked to contact Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety Detective Matthew Hutchison at 408-730-7100.
