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

Wednesday

06/10/2026

Sunny

96° / 71°

0%

Thursday

06/11/2026

Sunny

104° / 74°

0%

Friday

06/12/2026

Sunny

106° / 74°

0%

Saturday

06/13/2026

Sunny

104° / 73°

0%

Sunday

06/14/2026

Sunny

103° / 73°

0%

Monday

06/15/2026

Sunny

103° / 74°

0%

Tuesday

06/16/2026

Sunny

103° / 75°

0%

Wednesday

06/17/2026

Mostly Sunny

102° / 72°

0%