Fort Worth, Texas - Tarrant County District Attorney Phil Sorrells announced January 15, 2026, the creation of a new Cold Case Task Force aimed at solving long-unsolved homicides and other serious violent crimes across the county.
The task force will bring together prosecutors and investigators who will work closely with local police departments, forensic laboratories, and regional partners. By using advances in DNA science, genetic genealogy, and digital forensics, the initiative is designed to identify offenders, hold them accountable, and provide long-overdue answers to victims’ families.
“This task force isn’t simply an investigative unit,” Sorrells said. “It’s a promise to victims, families, and Tarrant County residents that justice will always be pursued here. Every victim deserves justice, and every family deserves answers.”
Sorrells pointed to the proven impact of modern forensic technology in Tarrant County, highlighting the case of Carla Walker. Walker was just 17 years old when she was abducted, sexually assaulted, and strangled after a Western Hills High School dance in 1974. Her body was found days later near Benbrook Lake, but the case went unsolved for decades.
In 2019, investigators reopened the case using advanced DNA testing. Genetic evidence linked Glen McCurley to biological material found on Walker’s clothing. He was arrested in 2020, and during his 2021 trial, McCurley pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison. He died less than two years later at age 80.
“Testing is the key to finding justice for families,” Sorrells said. “This task force sends a clear message that we do not forget crime victims, and we will never stop fighting for justice.”
The announcement comes as U.S. Senator John Cornyn has proposed the Carla Walker Act, which would dedicate federal grant funding to support forensic genetic genealogy DNA analysis nationwide. The legislation is intended to help law enforcement agencies solve cold cases that were once considered unsolvable.
Sorrells said the new task force reinforces a broader commitment to public safety in Tarrant County. “Our community is safer when those who commit violent crimes know that time does not protect them,” he said. “No matter how many years pass, we will continue to pursue justice.”
