Fort Worth police seek letter writer with information in cold case murder

Walker letter 

Fort Worth Police homicide cold case detectives are looking for a person of interest and a possible witness in connection to the murder of Carla Walker in 1974.

Fort Worth police on Friday released a letter they hope might lead to the case that has been a mystery for 45 years. Walker, 17, a Western Hills High School student, disappeared in February 1974 after being abducted at what was then Ridglea bowling alley, now the Cendera Center, on the city’s West Side. Her body was discovered a few days later in a culvert near Benbrook Lake. Police reported she had been kept alive for a few days and had been beaten, raped and strangled.

The crudely written letter is addressed to Detective Lt. Oliver Ball. After some blacked out material, the letter says “killd [sic] Carla Walker in Benbrook.” At the bottom, the letter says “P.S. It is hard to say but it is true.”

“The author of this letter is encouraged to come forward and speak with detectives about his or her knowledge of the murder. It is the hope of the Fort Worth Police Department that this person will provide valuable information that may bring peace and closure to Carla’s family after 45 long years,” according to a police news release.