A 45-year-old Texas cold case, the 1981 murder of a flight attendant, Beverly Brueau, has had a breakthrough with the arrest of Larry Brown. Larry Brown is currently 80 years old and has been a person of interest in the case since the very beginning.
On February 13, 1981, Bruneau was found strangled in her Grapevine, Texas, apartment. She was discovered by her then-boyfriend, with a 12-foot electrical cord wrapped around her neck. The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide via strangulation. Bruneau’s best friend, Thelma Brown, and her husband, Larry Brown, were questioned on the day the body was discovered. Police also noted that Larry had a wound on his right thumb. Brown was never charged, despite suspicion from law enforcement.
Advances in technology, however, have given a new angle to the case. Bruneau’s clothing was sent for DNA examination in 2010. A DNA profile for an unknown male was created, but it did not match any in the system at the time. The case received another boost in 2025, when investigators were able to trace blood evidence on the victim’s nightgown, which matched the profile of the unidentified male.
Grapevine PD directed the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office to surveil Larry Brown’s home. DNA from Brown was collected discreetly through discarded soda bottles and a BBQ sauce bottle in Brown’s curbside trash in Loveland, Colorado. In May 2026, the DNA profile was matched to Brown.
The profile in question has a ratio of being present 1 time in every 17 million Caucasian individuals. It was also concluded that the blood belonging to Brown had been on the garment since 1981.
The news has received a lot of attention online. Under a YouTube video on the incident posted by FOX4 Dallas-Fort Worth, comments focused on justice coming a little too late. While there are those who are happy with the justice being served at all, others suggest that the case might be too old to matter.
One comment said, “Blood AND a clear suspect…..but it took 40 years? WTF?”
Another comment read, “I love hearing another cold case has been solved. She deserves to have justice. This horrible person who killed her has to pay the piper for his actions. My prayers go out to the family. I’m sorry for your loss. RIP sweetie. Amen.”
A third comment stated, “He lived from 35 to 80 years old as a free man, all this while the police had his blood on her nightgown. Shame on the original investigators!”
Disclaimer: Inquisitr could not independently confirm the facts of this incident and is reporting based on the information available.
