GARLAND, Texas — An 85-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with a 37-year-old homicide cold case out of Garland, Texas, officials announced July 19.
The Lovington Police Department in New Mexico said that officers assisting the FBI and the Garland Police Department arrested Liborio Canales for the murder of Barbara Fay Villarreal.
According to the Garland Police Department, on Nov. 7, 1986, officers responded to a disturbance call at a home in the 3600 block of Colbath Street. When they arrived, they found Villarreal dead from multiple stab wounds. Officers said a large kitchen knife was found near her body.
At the time of the crime, police said Villarreal’s husband was interviewed and eventually cleared in the murder.
Police said DNA evidence was recovered from the scene and was entered into the CODIS DNA database.
Throughout the years, the FBI and Garland police detectives worked several leads in both the United States and Mexico, according to officials.
Garland police said that the department used new technology, including DNA genealogy that determined the suspect, Canales, was the brother of Villarreal’s husband.
Lovington PD said Canales was known to stay at a home in the city. The department said Canales had recently crossed the Mexico border and entered New Mexico to celebrate his birthday with family.
Lovington PD said officers took Canales into custody Tuesday, July 18, without incident. Canales was booked into the Lea County Detention Center on a federal warrant for the charge of murder.
While in custody, detectives said Canales admitted to killing Villarreal over a family dispute. His bond has been set at $1 million.
Court records show Canales was extradited back to Texas and booked into the Dallas County Jail on Aug. 18.
"The Garland Police Department is thankful for the assistance of the Dallas FBI Violent Crimes Task Force, the Lea County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lovington New Mexico Police Department for help bringing closure on this cold case and closure for Barbara Fay’s family," the department said in a statement.