Fort Worth Cold Case detectives solved the murder of 17-year-old Carla Walker after it had gone cold for nearly five decades.

They analyzed old evidence using genetic genealogy and new DNA extraction technology pioneered by Othram, a forensic genealogy lab in the Woodlands, a suburb of Houston. 

17-Year Old Carla Walker Abducted in August of 1974

Othram matched the DNA to a test submitted to a genealogy site by a member of the killer’s family tree. Othram did not disclose the relative’s name. 

Cold case investigators Jeff Bennett and Leah Wagner identified 78-year-old Glen McCurley, who was among the original suspects. McCurley confessed to them when confronted with the DNA evidence. 

Genetic genealogy was used in the Golden State Killer case, but this was the first time the technology made it to a courtroom.

Glen McCurley Sentenced To Life In Prison Under McDuff Capital Murder Law

McCurley pleaded guilty after two days of testimony in his capital murder trial in August of 2021.

More than 1,000 cases remain unsolved in Fort Worth alone. Paying for expensive DNA tests and travel expenses for investigators makes the task even more difficult.

Detective Jeff Bennett created the FWPD Cold Case Support Group in the wake of the Walker case. This nonprofit foundation accepts tax-deductible donations to help solve Fort Worth’s unsolved murders.

Make An Online Donation with a note that you heard about this on True Crime Reporter™ Podcast or mail a check to:

FWPD Cold Case Support Group

PO Box 185052

Fort Worth, TX 76181-0052, US

The seven members of the FWPD Cold Case Support Group Board of Directors are: Detective Jeff Bennett, Detective Leah Wagner, Jim Walker (brother of Carla Walker), Emily Dixon (Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office), Detective John Galloway, former Sgt. David Thornton (who started the cold case unit in the 2000s), and Adam Palmer (founder of the oil and gas company Resource Sense LLC.)

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