The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office announced a major breakthrough in a decade-old missing persons case. A suspect has been arrested in connection with the 2010 disappearance of Lynda Haynie, now being investigated as a homicide.
Originally handled by the Missing Persons Bureau, the case was reclassified as a homicide in January 2025 after detectives uncovered new evidence. Investigators identified Jonathan Simpson of Maryville, Tennessee, as a suspect. A search of Simpson’s residence by Sacramento County and Monroe County detectives provided enough evidence for arrest warrants for Murder (PC 187) and Criminal Conspiracy (PC 182). On November 12, Simpson was arrested without incident and is now in custody at the Sacramento County Main Jail.
The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office credited the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office for its crucial role in advancing the investigation, highlighting its assistance on multiple occasions.
The investigation is ongoing. The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Bureau is looking for additional suspects connected to Haynie’s disappearance. Anyone with information is urged to call the Sheriff’s Office at (916) 874-5115, Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at (916) 443-HELP, or submit an anonymous tip online or by calling (916) 874-TIPS (8477).
