In a significant breakthrough, the Garland Police Department announced the arrest of an 85-year-old man in connection with the 37-year-old cold case murder of Barbara Fay Villareal. On November 7, 1986, officers responded to a distress call at a residence in the 3600 block of Colbath Street, where they discovered the lifeless body of Barbara Fay Villareal, who had been brutally stabbed multiple times.
For decades, the case remained unsolved, leaving the family of the victim with unanswered questions and unresolved grief. However, the relentless efforts of current Garland Detectives, coupled with advancements in DNA genealogy, led to a major breakthrough in the investigation.
Initially, during the original investigation, now-retired Garland Detectives gathered critical evidence, including potential blood samples from the perpetrator, effectively eliminating Barbara's husband as a suspect. This evidence remained preserved and became crucial in the recent breakthrough.
With the advent of modern technology and DNA analysis techniques, the cold case was reopened, and detectives delved into the realm of genealogy. Using this cutting-edge technology, they discovered that the suspect was a close relative of Barbara's husband. The investigation ultimately honed in on Liborio Canales, the brother of the victim's husband, as a possible suspect.
Acting on this lead, Garland Detectives, in collaboration with the Dallas FBI Violent Crimes Task Force, the Lea County Sheriff's Office, and the Lovington New Mexico Police Department, apprehended Liborio Canales in Lovington, New Mexico. During questioning, Liborio confessed to the murder and revealed that it stemmed from a long-standing family dispute.
Liborio Canales now faces charges of murder and is currently being held on a one-million-dollar bond. The process of extradition is underway, and once completed, he will be transferred to the Dallas County Jail to await trial.
The Garland Police Department expressed their gratitude to all the law enforcement agencies involved for their unwavering commitment in bringing justice to Barbara Fay Villareal's case.
