TX - Cold case murders may be connected, Montgomery County, Houston

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http://www.hcnonline.com/articles/2010/09/11/conroe_courier/news/coldcase091210.txt

Updated: 09.11.10


Cold case murders may be connected

Around two decades ago, the bodies of five murdered Houston women were discovered in Montgomery County over a three-year period.
Although serial killer Henry Lee Lucas took credit for the slayings in 1983, Duroy says there is no reason to believe his claims.

“He (Lucas) admitted to 600 murders, but 200 of those cases have been cleared on him nationwide using forensic evidence,” Duroy said.
Much more at link.

Possible connected Victims:

Barbara Gale Whitten
http://www.woodlandsonline.com/dbs/sheriff/files/File/COLDCASE.pdf
PAGE 2

Gloria Ann Stephan

Laura Marie Purchase
http://www.woodlandsonline.com/dbs/sheriff/files/File/COLDCASE.pdf
PAGE 6

Laura Jean Donez
http://www.woodlandsonline.com/dbs/sheriff/files/File/COLDCASE.pdf
PAGE 7

Unidentified female
http://www.woodlandsonline.com/dbs/sheriff/files/File/COLDCASE.pdf
PAGE 7 as well.
[ame="http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?p=5483257"]TX TX - New Caney - WhtFem Age 15-22 Behind Truck Stop - May 1983 - Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community[/ame]

http://www.doenetwork.org/hot/hotcase1939.html
 
.
In October 2019, investigators sent the DNA evidence for genealogy testing, which showed Thomas Elvin Darnell, a 75-year-old male from Kansas City, Kansas, as a potential suspect, according to a release. A DNA search warrant for Darnell was obtained as a result of the investigation, according to a release.

Montgomery County Cold Case Detectives went to Kansas on March 17, 38 years later to the day, and collected a known DNA sample from Darnell.

On April 30, his DNA sample was positively matched to the DNA collected from Purchase, according to a release.


Arrest made in 1983 cold case murder in Montgomery County
Arrest made in 1983 cold case murder in Montgomery County
 
Arrest made in 1983 cold case murder in Montgomery County
Arrest made in 1983 cold case murder in Montgomery County

Has this been posted on the Webslueths DNA case thread for geneology?

"But In 2007, the Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Squad resubmitted the unknown male’s DNA found during the initial investigation, according to a release. Lucas, along with his alleged codefendant Otis Elwood Toole, were eliminated by DNA in 2008, according to a release.

In October 2019, investigators sent the DNA evidence for genealogy testing, which showed Thomas Elvin Darnell, a 75-year-old male from Kansas City, Kansas, as a potential suspect, according to a release. A DNA search warrant for Darnell was obtained as a result of the investigation, according to a release.

Montgomery County Cold Case Detectives went to Kansas on March 17, 38 years later to the day, and collected a known DNA sample from Darnell.

On April 30, his DNA sample was positively matched to the DNA collected from Purchase, according to a release.

An arrest warrant for capital murder was issued in Montgomery County and Darnell was arrested at his home on May 11, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

On May 20, Darnell was extradited to Montgomery County and booked into the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Jail on capital murder charges with no bond."

ETA: I just posted it to such at DNA Solves Cold Cases/Parabon Nanolabs & GED/Match.


TX - Cold case murders may be connected, Montgomery County, Houston
 
@dixiegirl1035 - hope you don't mind if I start a thread for Laura Purchase - I'd like to use the articles above for the first post. That okay with you? I found Darnell in the Montgomery County court site - so I'd like to follow this one.
Unless you meant THIS thread to be for her?
 
@dixiegirl1035 - hope you don't mind if I start a thread for Laura Purchase - I'd like to use the articles above for the first post. That okay with you? I found Darnell in the Montgomery County court site - so I'd like to follow this one.
Unless you meant THIS thread to be for her?

I think that YOU are the best person to discern such... I just went looking for a WS thread for such, and did not find one, so kudos to making one for Laura Purchase as victims need threads MOO
 
I think that YOU are the best person to discern such... I just went looking for a WS thread for such, and did not find one, so kudos to making one for Laura Purchase as victims need threads MOO

I've gone thru 8 to 10 articles and NONE of them have Laura's age. Nothing! Can you see if you can find one? I'll go ahead & make a thread for her - and will post a link here - in a bit! :)
 
I did some looking as well and can’t find age. Maybe local reporters will do some digging and try to find more info about her.
 
IMO it appears 3 as many as 5 different killers who utilized that area to dump victims .

Not all of them were part of a series either.
 

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