Cold Case Breakthrough: Father Arrested in 34-Year-Old Murder of Janice Randle

Nearly 34 years after the mysterious death of Janice Randle, a breakthrough in the long-cold case has led to the arrest of her estranged husband, James Robert Randle — a development driven largely by the determination of their daughters.

Kourtney Lewis was preparing for work when she received a call from a detective informing her that a suspect had finally been arrested. The news was overwhelming — not only because the case had remained unsolved for decades, but because the suspect was her own father. The moment brought a mix of emotions, from relief at progress to shock at the implications.

The case dates back to November 1992 in Graham, Washington, when Janice Randle was found dead in her bedroom. At the time, Lewis was just 18 months old and had been left alone for hours beside her mother’s body. Initial investigations treated the death as a possible overdose, largely influenced by claims that Janice struggled with painkiller use. However, an autopsy later found no drugs in her system, and evidence of physical trauma raised suspicions of homicide.

Despite early concerns, the case was never fully pursued as a murder investigation and eventually went cold. Over the years, unanswered questions lingered — especially for Lewis and her half-sister Katie Wakin, who had different childhood experiences but shared a deep bond.

For decades, the sisters avoided discussing their mother’s death. Wakin, who was a teenager at the time, had long suspected her stepfather’s involvement but chose silence to protect her relationship with Lewis. That changed in early 2025 when the sisters finally confronted the topic together.

What followed was an intense, months-long effort to uncover the truth. The sisters gathered police reports, court documents, and medical records, carefully organizing details and identifying inconsistencies. Their investigation uncovered troubling information about their parents’ turbulent relationship, including past domestic violence and an ongoing custody dispute.

They eventually presented their findings to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, prompting a renewed review of the case. Investigators reopened the file, and new evidence — including alleged confessions made by James Randle to family members — became central to the case.

On April 1, authorities arrested James Randle at a nursing home in Washington. He has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and is currently being held on a $1 million bond as he awaits trial.

For Lewis, the arrest has brought both closure and emotional conflict. While she sought answers about her mother’s death, confronting the possibility of her father’s involvement has been deeply painful. She has since cut ties with him but admits to struggling with lingering feelings and questions.

The sisters say their mission goes beyond legal justice — they want to restore their mother’s voice and ensure her story is heard. They describe her as vibrant and full of life, someone who loved music, dancing, and bringing people together.

Authorities have acknowledged that the case might never have been revived without the family’s efforts. Investigators say the daughters’ persistence and the emergence of new information were critical in finally moving the case forward.

As the legal process unfolds, the story stands as a powerful example of how determination and the search for truth can reopen even the oldest of cases — and how the pursuit of justice can come with profound personal cost.