Credit: Solano County District Attorney's Office.
On Monday, Sept. 18, 2023, investigators with the Solano County District Attorney's Office along with the assistance of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office arrested suspect Fred Cain III at his home in Central Point, Oregon, for the kidnaping, rape and murder of a 6-year-old child in 1987.
In 1987, the child was abducted near his home in the city of Vallejo. Four days after the child went missing, his body was discovered on Sherman Island in Sacramento County. An autopsy revealed that the child victim had been sexually assaulted.
That year, Shawn Melton was named as a suspect in the case, as he appeared to have knowledge only the person responsible for the child’s death would know. He was subsequently charged with murder and kidnapping. The case was later dismissed after a jury could not reach a verdict—twice. Advances in DNA technology have since exonerated Melton, and now point to Cain as responsible for the young child’s death.
“I am so thankful to have such dedicated cold case investigators that no matter how much time goes by they remain steadfast in their commitment to solving these horrific cases,” said District Attorney Krishna Abrams.
Cain waived extradition in Oregon and will be transferred to Solano County to face charges of Murder with special circumstance allegations of kidnapping and sodomy.
No other details will be revealed at this time to preserve the integrity of the pending case.
District Attorney Krishna Abrams reinstated the Cold Case Unit in the office after being first elected in 2014. One of the many priorities was to solve homicide cases that had gone cold over the years to hold offenders accountable, seek long awaited justice, and bring closure for all the victims' families that had been greatly impacted.
If you have any information regarding this case, please call 707-784-8477.
Republished courtesy of Solano County District Attorney's Office.