Carla Walker was by all accounts a normal run of the mill early 70’s teenager. She laughed, liked to have fun, and dated. “On February 17, 1974, seventeen-year-old Carla Walker was abducted from the parking lot of a west Fort Worth, Texas bowling alley.” Carla had been out with her boyfriend, Rodney McCoy when they’d stopped to use the bathrooms. “Around midnight, she and Rodney were sitting in his car when the door was jerked open and Carla was dragged from the car. Rodney grabbed her, but was hit over the head with a pistol. The man struggling with Carla told Rodney, "I'm going to kill you."

Rodney was knocked out by the blow he’d received from the abductor, when he woke sometime later, Carla was gone. “With blood streaming down his face, he drove the few short blocks to the home of Carla's parents to report the crime.”  Carla’s abused body was found three days later on February 20th, of 1974. “Carla's body was found under a culvert, near Benbrook Lake, a few miles from her home. She had been raped and strangled.”

It wasn’t long after her death that Detective John Terrell became involved in the investigation of Carla’s murder. Detective Terrell states that “Time would pass and those responsible for the investigation no longer seemed interested; but I continued in my efforts as time permitted.” He goes on to say that “until my retirement in 1986 I tried to convince others of my beliefs; some were interested, while others were not. When I retired, I contacted the Walker family and with their blessings, I continued my investigation.”  

Terrell realized early on that the Ft. Worth department wasn’t going to be any help in his investigation efforts. I’m guessing that they simply considered him an old dog with a new bone (no offense meant and hopefully none taken). In February of 1974, Detective Terrell was in the burglary department but he followed newspaper reports on Carla’s abduction, the search and subsequent location of her body. On the Justice for Carla website, Terrell puts it bluntly when he says “Although the murder of Carla remains as unsolved, there is no doubt, at least in my opinion, who was responsible for her murder.” After reading everything I could get my hands on regarding Carla’s death, I happen to agree with him.

*********************************************************************

*********************************************************************