A man accused of snatching a teenage girl from her boyfriend's car and murdering her nearly 50 years ago was charged with capital murder after his DNA profile matched on genetic genealogy database.
Glen Samuel McCurley, of Fort Worth, Texas, was indicted in the death of Carla Jan Walker, a 17-year-old girl who was abducted and murdered in February 1974.
The Fort Worth Police Department first arrested McCurley, 77, in September and said they believed the brutal attack was random, NBC 5 reports.
McCurley and Walker are not believed to have known each other.
McCurkey was nabbed after his DNA profile struck a match on GEDmatch, an online service that compares DNA files from different testing companies. Golden State Killer Joseph James DeAngelo was also caught using GEDMatch.
Walker was kidnapped on February 16, 1974, while attending a Valentine's Day Dance with her boyfriend, Rodney McCoy, at Western Hills High School.
The couple stopped by a local bowling alley after the dance, but were allegedly attacked once they got back into McCoy's vehicle.
Carla Jan Walker (pictured), a 17-year-old student at Western Hills High School, was kidnapped and killed in February 1974
Authorities said that Walker (left) was grabbed from the passenger seat of her boyfriend's, Rodney McCoy (right), vehicle in 1974
McCurley allegedly grabbed Walker from the passenger seat of McCoy's car in the parking lot before brandishing a gun at him.
McCurley allegedly threatened to murder McCoy, but the boyfriend said that he was knocked unconscious and Walker was gone when he awoke.
Walker's body was discovered three days later on February 20, 1974, in a culvert near Benbrook Lake.
She had been raped, battered, strangled and tortured alive for two days. Authorities said they found morphine in Walker's system.
NBC 5 reports that authorities linked McCurley to Walker's death after a breakthrough with his DNA profile in September.
DNA evidence collected from Walker's clothes and bra that night were sent to Othram, a private laboratory that determines genetic identities from difficult evidence like decades-old bones and rootless hair.
A full DNA profile was constructed of the suspect, while only partial profiles were created before, NBC 5 reports.
Ortham's DNA profile led investigators to three brothers with the last name McCurley.
Investigator's most recent investigation was not the first time McCurley was singled out as a person on interest in Walker's death.
He had a .22 Ruger firearm that matched a magazine located at the crime scene in 1974.
Investigators discovered Walker (pictured) dead on February 20, 1974, in a culvert near Benbrook Lake after being beaten, sexually assaulted and strangled
DNA collected from Walker's clothes and bra helped authorities turn their attention towards McCurley, who denied murdering Walker 46 years ago. Pictured: Carla Jan Walker and Rodney McCoy
McCurley was initially questioned in 1974, but didn't receive any follow-up inquiries until his DNA profile struck a match on GEDmatch.
NBC 5 reports that authorities obtained trash from outside of McCurley's home in July 2020. They found that DNA on those items matched the profile they collected from Walker's clothing.
Investigators spoke to McCurley on September 10 at his Fort Worth residence, where he once again claimed to not know Walker and said he did not kill her.
McCurley provided a DNA sample to police, which they said matched DNA found on Walker's bra.
NBC 5 reports that McCurley was transferred to the Tarrant County Jail with a $100,000 bond.
Authorities said that during the last 46 years, McCurley was married and had two children. He was not suspected of any other crimes.
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