In a remarkable turn of events, the San Jose Police Department has cracked a 1997 cold case, leading to the arrest of a suspect for the murder of 84-year-old Alice Sharitz. According to the San Jose Police Department, the breakthrough came through advanced forensic science and genealogical analysis, culminating in the apprehension of the alleged murderer almost three decades after the crime.
The grim discovery was made on October 6, 1997, when Ms. Sharitz, who resided alone, was found deceased in her apartment on N. Jackson Avenue. The report, called in by a neighbor intending to deliver a card only to find the front door ajar, brought police to a scene where Sharitz lay with a knife in her chest amid signs of a violent struggle. Following her death, police gathered DNA but were stymied in their efforts to find the perpetrator, with the case ultimately going cold.
It wasn't until 2021 that a male DNA profile developed from the crime scene evidence was sent off for forensic genetic genealogy analysis, breathing new life into the investigation. This DNA work paid off in October 2024, identifying Joe Contreras as a potential match for the DNA. The following year, the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Crime Lab confirmed that the DNA from the crime scene was indeed that of Contreras.
San José Police Department Chief Paul Joseph reflected on the arrest, saying, “Time does not erase responsibility,”. And in December 2025, Contreras was found living in Dallas, Oregon, and was taken into custody, with his extradition to San José yesterday. He faces charges for the murder of Ms. Sharitz, as detailed by the San Jose Police Department's release.
