1986 Fort Worth cold case murder victim identified through DNA database

The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office has identified an unknown murder victim who was killed in Fort Worth in 1986.The family of Brenda McLerran is now grateful to finally have at least some of their questions answered.1986 Murder Victim IDedA woman’s body was found near Hillside Park in Fort Worth on the morning of Feb. 24, 1986. She had been strangled to death.Despite their best efforts through the years, investigators and medical examiners were never able to identify her.Then in 2025, the Tarrant County ME’s Office submitted the victim’s DNA to Ortham, Inc., a lab near Houston that specializes in forensic genetic genealogy.The lab got a DNA match for a potential relative of the victim – Floyd McLerran. Further DNA tests confirmed the relationship and in July 2026, the ME’s office officially identified the woman as Brenda McLerran.Floyd McLerran told FOX 4 that he last saw his sister, Brenda, 40 years ago.She left their home in Brashear, which is near Sulphur Springs in Hopkin