A 79-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a nearly 43-year-old murder case in Texas, bringing renewed attention to the cold case of Beverly Bruneau. Larry Dean Brown was apprehended and booked into the Tarrant County Corrections Centre on a charge of murder with intent to cause death after being extradited from Colorado.
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The Grapevine Police Department confirmed the arrest in a press release issued on Thursday, July 16. According to court records, Brown’s arrest is linked to the tragic death of 35-year-old Bruneau, whose lifeless body was discovered in her home on 13 February 1981 by her boyfriend. He found her lying on the living room floor with an electrical cord around her neck and visible blood on her face.
Investigators from that era reported signs of a struggle within the home, indicating a violent confrontation had taken place. Autopsy results determined that Bruneau had died due to strangulation in the mid-morning hours prior to her boyfriend’s return, as reported by various local news outlets, including The Fort Worth Star-Telegram and WFAA.
At the time of Bruneau’s death, Larry Dean Brown was known to be close to the victim, as he was the husband of her best friend, Thelma Brown. Thelma and Beverly Bruneau co-owned a property in Dallas that had recently suffered from a fire. Investigators noted that Brown had pressured Bruneau to sign forged insurance documents with inflated repair costs before her untimely death. After Bruneau’s refusal, it is alleged that Thelma subsequently forged her signature on the documents.
The case remained dormant for decades until 2010, when advances in forensic science led detectives to revisit the cold case. During this re-examination, investigators discovered an unknown male DNA profile, although initial searches through the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) yielded no matches.
Detectives subsequently collaborated with the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office in Colorado, where Brown was residing at the time. They obtained samples of DNA from discarded soda bottles in his trash for analysis. Recent tests suggested that Brown could not be excluded as a possible source of the blood found on Bruneau’s nightgown, further implicating him in her death.
“The arrest follows an extensive investigation by detectives and represents a significant development in this case,” the Grapevine Police Department remarked. They noted that additional forensic testing, including confirmatory DNA analysis, is still pending, and further details will be provided once results are available.
Brown’s legal counsel, Bryan Hoeller, has reportedly filed a motion to reduce his client’s bail, which is currently set at $2 million. As of 15 July, Brown had been denied bail while awaiting trial.
As this case unfolds, it serves as a reminder of how advancements in forensic science can bring new life to long-dormant investigations. The Grapevine Police Department has not released further details but has expressed their commitment to uncovering the truth behind this historic tragedy.
For those wishing to stay updated on crime news, PEOPLE magazine offers a free True Crime newsletter that covers breaking stories and intriguing unsolved cases. Inquiries regarding comments from Brown’s attorney have been made by various media outlets. As the investigation continues, the community watches closely, hoping for justice for Beverly Bruneau after decades of unanswered questions.