Nearly four decades after a brutal killing rattled Northern Arizona University and the surrounding community, Flagstaff police say they have finally made an arrest. Detectives on Tuesday took Glendale resident James Arthur Runnels Jr. into custody, accusing him of fatally stabbing 24-year-old student Ina Claire Langstaff in 1987. Investigators say new forensic testing linked Runnels to the crime, reopening one of Flagstaff's most haunting cold cases.
Langstaff was found stabbed outside her Old Town Flagstaff apartment on Nov. 7, 1987. For years, her killing loomed over the college town as families and detectives circled back to the file whenever forensic tools took a step forward.
Arrest and Charges
Flagstaff police say DNA evidence ultimately led them to Runnels, who lived in Flagstaff at the time of the killing and now lives in Glendale, according to FOX 10 Phoenix. The department worked with the Coconino County Attorney’s Office Cold Case Unit to pursue a first-degree murder charge.
Officials noted that despite extensive investigative work over the years, the case remained stalled for decades. The alleged break only came once investigators had access to more advanced forensic testing.
Victim and the Cold-Case Record
Coconino County's cold-case records list Langstaff as having been found in an alley near Plaza Vieja on Nov. 7, 1987, her death categorized among unsolved homicides that investigators continue to monitor. The county entry underscores that no arrest followed the original 1987 investigation and that the case remained open.
The same document highlights hotlines for tips and notes that these dormant files are periodically pulled back into the lab and the interview room as new technology and investigative methods become available.
How Investigators Say DNA Pointed to a Suspect
Flagstaff police told reporters they revisited physical evidence from the original scene, submitting it for additional DNA testing that produced a match pointing to Runnels, according to FOX 10 Phoenix. That match, investigators say, provided the basis for the arrest.
"This development reflects decades of perseverance by investigators, continued advancements in forensic science, and strong collaboration among law enforcement agencies," the department said in a statement quoted by the outlet.
Local Cold-Case Efforts and Resources
The Coconino County Attorney's Office created a dedicated cold-case unit in 2025 to reexamine unsolved homicides and coordinate forensic testing, a local news report noted. That initiative was described as part of a broader push to use new technologies and cross-agency cooperation to move long-stalled investigations toward resolution, according to AZFamily.
Next Steps and How the Public Can Help
Runnels is in custody and faces a first-degree murder charge. The Coconino County Attorney’s Office Cold Case Unit will handle formal charging documents and upcoming court dates.
Authorities are still asking the public for help. Anyone with information related to Langstaff's death or the investigation is urged to contact the county's Cold Case Squad at 928-226-5033 or 928-774-4523, according to Coconino County.
