A Vietnam veteran faces charges for the 1981 murder of Beverly Bruneau in Texas. Larry Dean Brown, 79, is held without bond at the Tarrant County Corrections Center after being extradited from Colorado, according to officials. A grand jury indicted Brown for the murder, committed when Bruneau was found strangled with an electrical cord in her Grapevine apartment.
Cold Case Resolution Through DNA
This breakthrough is part of a series of cold cases recently solved using DNA technology. Notable cases include linking a killer to the Colonial Parkway Murders, identifying a Jane Doe in Minnesota, and connecting a serial offender to the Yogurt Shop Murders. Criminologist Alex del Carmen highlighted the importance of DNA advancements in resurrecting stalled investigations.
Background on Beverly Bruneau’s Death
Beverly Bruneau was a flight attendant who shared her life with her best friend, Thelma, and Brown, who worked in the same industry. Prior to this, Brown served as a Navy pilot in Vietnam. Bruneau and Thelma bought a house together in Dallas, which involved a unique mortgage agreement. The agreement stipulated that if either married, she would remain responsible for her share of the mortgage. It also included a life insurance policy covering the mortgage in the event of one of their deaths. Thelma married Brown, leading to tensions about the mortgage agreement. Despite losing his airline job, Brown owned part of a construction company, which added financial complexity.
Subsequent Events and Insurance Fraud
A fire broke out at Bruneau’s house, later determined to be suspicious. This led to urging from the Browns for Bruneau to sign fraudulent insurance forms. Brown sought an appraisal for the arson through his construction firm. After Bruneau refused and confronted Larry, he became a suspect. Despite initial cooperation, Brown later avoided police procedures and became a practicing attorney in Colorado before retiring at 73.
Investigation and Arrest
Bruneau’s boyfriend found her body after multiple missed calls, noting blood and an electrical cord around her neck. The medical examiner confirmed she wasn’t sexually assaulted, but she had struggled with her attacker. Evidence, like bloodstains, preserved during her autopsy, later played a role in DNA analysis. In 2010, analysis of Bruneau’s nightgown produced a male DNA profile uploaded to the Combined DNA Index System. This year, detectives obtained a DNA sample from Brown, matching it to the crime scene. Swabs taken from Brown’s discarded soda bottles confirmed this match, leading to his arrest in Colorado and subsequent extradition.
Upcoming Legal Proceedings
Brown’s legal team seeks bond for the accused, who is nearly 80 and recently diagnosed with a disease qualifying him for veteran benefits. Defense lawyer Bryan Hoeller claims evidence is largely circumstantial and that the DNA match has an explanation given Brown’s previous interactions with Bruneau.
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