U.S. Senators John Cornyn and Peter Welch have introduced the Carla Walker Act, aimed at using federal grant funds to support forensic genetic genealogy (FGG) DNA analysis. This initiative is intended to help solve cold cases that were previously unsolvable. The bill honors Carla Walker, a Fort Worth native whose murder case was solved 46 years after her death with the help of advanced DNA technology.
Senator Cornyn stated, “Fort Worth native Carla Walker was abducted in a bowling alley and tragically murdered in 1974, but it took more than four decades and the advent of forensic genetic genealogy DNA analysis for her killer to be identified and brought to justice.” He expressed pride in authoring legislation that would make this DNA testing technology more accessible to law enforcement.
Senator Welch highlighted the advancements in forensic DNA technology, saying, “Advancements in forensic DNA technology have revolutionized our ability to combat crime.” He noted that this technology can provide answers to families and offer wrongly accused individuals a chance to clear their names. Welch also acknowledged Senator Cornyn’s leadership on the bipartisan bill.
In the House of Representatives, U.S. Congressman Wesley Hunt is leading companion legislation.
The traditional method of identifying suspects involves uploading genetic material from crime scenes into the FBI’s national database. However, FGG technology examines over half a million Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs), allowing investigators to build family trees that help determine identities and solve cases.
Carla Walker was abducted from a Fort Worth bowling alley parking lot on February 17, 1974. Her body was discovered three days later. Despite collecting some forensic samples at the time, limited technology prevented solving her murder until nearly five decades later when FGG DNA analysis led to identifying Glen McCurley Jr., who confessed in 2021 before his death in prison in 2023.
The Carla Walker Act proposes creating a pilot program for wider availability of FGG DNA analysis for investigative agencies. It aims to resolve cold cases, identify criminals, seek justice for unidentified victims, exonerate wrongly accused suspects, and bring closure for victims’ families.
