SAN FRANCISCO—On July 22, the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office announced that Ricky Dawson, 65, was charged with murder in connection to a 1992 cold case murder and rape. He was extradited from Colorado where he was serving a life sentence in connection to a 1996 sexual assault murder in Denver, Colorado.
Dawson was arraigned on July 20, 2026, pleaded not guilty to all charges and denied the allegations. He is charged with murder (PC 187(a)), with a special circumstance of a prior murder conviction for a 2004 Florida conviction of sexual assault murder (PC 190.2(a)(2)), a special circumstance allegation of rape (PC 190.2(a)(17)(C)) and a special circumstance allegation of sodomy (PC 190.2(a)(17)(D)).
The SFDA’s Office moved to have Dawson detained pending trial without bail due to the public safety risk he poses. The court set no bail, and Dawson remains in custody. His next court date is July 30, 2026, for the preliminary hearing in this case.
According to court documents, on May 2, 1992, at approximately 6:14 p.m., officers with the San Francisco Police Department responded to Hang Ah Alley and Clay Street near 98 Hang Ah Alley and found an adult female victim lying on the ground inside a utility corridor.
An autopsy was performed and multiple traumatic injuries to the victim were noted. The forensic pathologist determined the cause of death to be asphyxia due to strangulation. DNA testing concluded that the sperm cells found on the victim’s vaginal and rectal swabs matched to Dawson.
The SFPD is still investigating the case. Anyone with details should call the Tip Line at 1-415-575-4444 or Text a Tip to TIP411 and begin the text message with SFPD.
