Thanks to recent developments in DNA technology, Fort Worth police were able to identify and arrest a suspect in a nearly 26-year-old murder case.
Michael Puryear was arrested on Monday for the murder of 56-year-old Verna Dennis, who was found dead from blunt-force trauma at her Fort Worth home on August 10, 1997, CBS News Texas reported.
Dennis was struck in the head 23 times with a steel bar, and her throat was slashed with a butcher knife, according to an autopsy report, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Her body was discovered by her friends, who had gone to her house for a planned Bible study.
Her vehicle and thousands of dollars worth of jewelry were missing from the home. Her 1993 Accura was found one month later in a parking lot in San Antonio.
The investigation into Dennis’ murder was initially led by Fort Worth homicide detective Curt Brannan, who “diligently pursued all available leads,” according to the Fort Worth Police Department (FWPD).
However, Brannan was unable to identify a suspect until eight years after the murder, when an informant came forward with information pointing to Michael Puryear as a suspect, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported.
Puryear was arrested in 2006, but there was insufficient evidence to prosecute the case then, so the charges were dropped in 2009. However, according to FWPD, “Recent advancements in DNA technology allowed for testing that was not previously available.”
Jeff Bennett, a cold case detective with FWPD, built off Brannan’s previous casework and reopened the investigation, which reportedly led to Puryear’s arrest on Monday.
Puryear has been charged with capital murder and is being held at Tarrant County Corrections Center. His bond has been set at $500,000.
FWPD did not immediately respond to The Dallas Express‘ request for information regarding the DNA advancements that led to Puryear’s arrest.
Violent crime has long been a problem in North Texas. In nearby Dallas, there have been 153 murders committed within the city limits as of August 3, up 8.5% year over year, according to the Dallas Police Department’s (DPD) latest crime briefing.
DPD has been suffering from a significant staffing shortage in recent years. Per a City analysis, the department is short about 900 officers, falling well under the 4,000 officers recommended.
The shortage has been felt in Downtown Dallas. The neighborhood sees considerably more crime than Fort Worth’s downtown area, which reportedly has a dedicated police unit working alongside private security guards.
