TX - Larry West, 68, arrested & charged w/ murder in 1981 death of Carol Joyce DeLeon, 18, in New Braunfels after DNA match, 13 Apr 2023

[citizen_sleuth]

DNA from San Antonio man matches that from 1981 cold case murder - News4SA
<snipped & BBM>
Texas Rangers arrested Larry West, 68, on Thursday and charged with murder in the 1981 death of Carol Joyce DeLeon, who's naked body was found along Interstate 35 North, just south of New Braunfels.

DeLeon, 18, had just graduated from Thomas Edison High School in San Antonio and police believe she went to a night club on June 3, 1981. Her nude body was found around 7:30 a.m. on June 4 near a rest area along I-35. Investigators say her blouse and bra were pulled behind her head. She had been shot six times in the head with a .25 caliber firearm.

[…]

In 2020, an investigation was done regarding genealogy testing and a hit came up as three potential persons of interest, including Larry West. After Texas Rangers obtained buccal swabs from West matched the DNA found in fingernail scrapings and pubic hair combings. The arrest report says that West's semen was also found in DeLeon's pubic hairs.

[…]

During an interview, West denied being involved in DeLeon's death. Investigators say that West was known to frequent bars in Bexar County looking to pick up younger Hispanic women.

A pair of ex-wives of West's both said that he was a violent person who would beat and forcibly rape them, according to the arrest report.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

SAN ANTONIO — A San Antonio man has been arrested in connection with a murder case that has remained unsolved for more than four decades.

Larry Allen West has been arrested and charged with the murder of Carol Joyce Deleon, according to an arrest warrant.

“We’ve been suffering for over 40 years not knowing what happened to my sister,” said Carol's sister, Sandra Deleon. “The potential of what she could have been, what she could have been will never be known. We were robbed of that, she was robbed of that.”

Cold case arrest: Man facing murder charge in 1981 death of San Antonio high school graduate

Carol Deleon's body was found in June 1981. More than four decades later, Larry Allen West has been charged with her murder.

www.kens5.com

 

[imstilla.grandma]

SAN ANTONIO – A man was arrested and charged with murder in connection with a cold case from over 40 years ago, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Larry Allen West was arrested Thursday by Texas Rangers in connection with the murder of Carol Joyce Deleon, 18, on June 4, 1981.

Deleon’s body was found along Interstate-35 in Comal County, according to DPS.

The day before her death, authorities said Deleon visited a nightclub in San Antonio.

An autopsy revealed that Deleon died from multiple gunshot wounds, according to DPS.

Investigators tried to identify Deleon by her fingerprints and from active missing persons’ reports in surrounding areas but were unsuccessful.

Deleon was later buried as a Jane Doe in New Braunfels, officials said.

In 2009, through DNA technology, authorities were able to identify the remains as those of Deleon’s.

Before her death, Deleon lived in the West Avenue area of San Antonio and graduated from Thomas Edison High School on May 1981.

West was taken to the Bexar County Jail but was released on Friday, according to Bexar County court records.

His bond was set at $125,000

Man released from jail after being charged with murder in decades-old cold case, records show

A man was arrested and charged with murder in connection with a cold case over 40 years ago, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

www.ksat.com

 

[dotr]

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[imstilla.grandma]

Texas Rangers met with her family and provided a photo of the Jane Doe. They recognized her and further family DNA testing confirmed her identity, 27 years after being labeled a Jane Doe.

Deleon was found to have resided in the West Avenue area of San Antonio and had graduated from Thomas Edison High School on May 28, 1981, just days prior to her death. The family had attempted to file a missing persons report back in 1981, but because she was 18 and no foul play was noted at the time, a report was not taken. Deleon had also told the family she would be moving away once she turned 18 and the family had assumed she had followed through. However, after years of not hearing from her, Deleon’s youngest sister decided to file the missing persons report in 2007.

42-year-old cold case killing of ‘Jane Doe’ solved; family waits 26 years before officially reporting Texas teen missing

The Texas Rangers have made an arrest in a 42-year-old cold case. On April 13, the Rangers arrested 68-year-old Larry Allen West for the murder of 18-year-old Carol Joyce Deleon. He was taken into custody at his residence in San Antonio.

www.click2houston.com

 

[Mert]

Quite a beautiful girl. Rest in peace, Carol.

 

[Searchparty]

Does anyone believe Larry West could have been involved in other unsolved cases in the San Antonio area?

 

[FL Wannabe]

"A pair of ex-wives"... that made me cringe! Those poor women. Anyone else think that now he's in prison and they're safe that more may come forward?

Also, the sister continuing to look makes this whole case possible. I hate when missing person reports are declined due to the potential of them willingly walking away.

 

[Deleted member 287549]

Deleon was found to have resided in the West Avenue area of San Antonio and had graduated from Thomas Edison High School on May 28, 1981, just days prior to her death. The family had attempted to file a missing persons report back in 1981, but because she was 18 and no foul play was noted at the time, a report was not taken. Deleon had also told the family she would be moving away once she turned 18 and the family had assumed she had followed through. However, after years of not hearing from her, Deleon’s youngest sister decided to file the missing persons report in 2007.

I just heard about this horrific case. Glad they finally caught the perp.

What's also incredibly sad is that it took so long to identify the body. It sounds like she died very shortly after graduating high school in May 1981. But, according to the article(s) - the family tried to file a missing persons report back in 1981 but were unable to. However, if the report had been taken ATT it seems evident that she would have been identified a lot sooner.

Not sure why the missing persons report wasn't taken ATT. I.e., even if someone is over 18 you should still be able to file this if you suspect that they're missing, etc. Very unfortunate.

 

[dotr]

Oct 15 2024

Man arrested, charged in cold case murder has case dismissed

A man arrested last year for the 1981 murder of 18-year-old Carol Joyce DeLeon had his case dismissed last week.

www.ksat.com

'DPS last year in a press release said in 2020, evidence in the case went through advanced DNA testing, and it led to the identity of West which was then confirmed through normal forensic DNA testing.

West had been waiting to be indicted while out on bond, but last week, the case was dismissed by the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office due to insufficient evidence.
DeLeon’s case remains unsolved.'

 

[dotr]

Oct 15, 2024
A man arrested last year for the 1981 murder of 18-year-old Carol Joyce DeLeon had his case dismissed last week.