Man arrested in 1997 murder of then 84-year-old Bay Area woman, investigators say

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- Investigators in Santa Clara County say they have solved a cold case that dates back to the late 1990's involving a woman who was killed in her apartment.

Alice Sharitz was a beloved member of the San Jose community.

But for nearly 30 years, family and friends had to live with the reality that no one had been arrested in the case - until now.

"She was a mother, she was a beloved grandmother - she wasn't just anyone," San Jose Police Dept. Deputy Chief Brian Spears said. "To the families who are still waiting for answers, we will not forget. And we will not stop pursuing those responsible."

In this case, 75-year-old Joe Contreras is accused of stabbing the then 84-year-old Sharitz to death in her apartment back in 1997.

ABC7 covered the story back then, as the community was left in shock by the brutal murder.

MORE: SF man arrested in cold case murder of wife, whose body was found floating in bay in 1982: police

Sharitz was left on the floor of her apartment with two stab wounds, spinal fractures, broken ribs and multiple other traumatic injuries.

Her home was ransacked, but there was no sign of forced entry - suggesting Sharitz knew her killer.

San Jose police said Monday that she and Contreras once had a relationship.

No suspects were identified at that time, until DNA collected in '97 was re-tested decades later.

In court documents, police say phlegm in Sharitz' toilet was collected and preserved.

As testing technology advanced, investigators were able to match it to Contreras' sample obtained in 2021.

"Sometimes we obtain it from a ruse," Spears said. "I don't know these particulars, but there are a variety of ways that we actually obtain DNA from a subject. But ultimately, once that match was confirmed, a search warrant was obtained for his DNA and that's what verified it."

MORE: 2 arrested in 1993 cold case of man murdered in his Bay Area home, authorities say

Contreras was extradited this week from his home in Dallas Oregon back to Santa Clara County where he now faces murder charges.

"It's always more difficult to try a cold case because many of the witnesses are older and some of them are deceased, but we do believe the evidence we do have will be able to be presented to the jury," Santa Clara Co. Deputy District Attorney Barbara Cathcart said.

The arraignment for Contreras has been continued until January 12 until his private attorney can be present.