Detectives with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit have tracked down a 66-year-old murder suspect in California who has been on the run for nearly 30 years.

James Edward Sims, with a date of birth of Oct. 15, 1943, was taken into custody by Lee County detectives at his home in Lakewood, Calif., where he has been living under an assumed name. Sims is charged with the murder of Roy Radabaugh on January 18, 1981 in the parking lot of what was then known as the Fox Den Lounge, located at 3224 Fowler Street in Fort Myers. Sims is accused of shooting Radabaugh execution style during an argument over a woman. Radabaugh, with a date of birth of July 10, 1951, was 29 years old at the time.

Sims was identified as a suspect, but by then had skipped town. He was subsequently able to assume a new identity and a new life in California, authorities said this weekend.

Sims’ life on the run came to an end thanks to the tireless pursuit of Myra Simmons, a civilian analyst with the Cold Case Unit. Simmons was able to pinpoint Sims in California, even using the thumb print on his California driver license to positively identify him, authorities said.

Detectives flew to California to stake out his home and took him into custody Friday morning, July 2.

“This is a significant apprehension,” said Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott, who has dedicated several detectives and analysts to the Cold Case Unit. “Even though this murder happened 29 years ago, the victim’s family has not forgotten and we have not forgotten.”

Lt. Bill Kalstrom, a supervisor with the Cold Case Unit, calls the arrest “very rewarding.” “This is the perfect example of the type of case this Unit was set up for.”

Sims is charged with first degree murder. He is awaiting first appearance in California (on Tuesday July 6). From then, the extradition process will be determined, authorities said.