Carla Walker Act Advances in U.S. Senate.

More than 50 years after the murder of Fort Worth teenager Carla Walker, a bill bearing her name is moving closer to becoming law.

The U.S. Senate has passed the Carla Walker Act, legislation that would provide federal funding for advanced DNA testing in cold cases nationwide.

The bill was inspired by Walker’s own case. In 2020, investigators used forensic genetic genealogy to identify the man responsible for the 1974 murder of the 17-year-old Western Hills High School cheerleader after her case had remained unsolved for nearly five decades.

Supporters say the legislation could help law enforcement agencies solve more long-standing cases by expanding access to DNA technology that is often costly and out of reach.

Introduced by U.S. Senators John Cornyn and Peter Welch, the bill now moves forward in the legislative process.

For many across Fort Worth, the measure represents more than policy. It reflects the hope that other families still waiting for answers may one day find justice.

Read Harriet Ramos’ full story at the Star-Telegram: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/article307681746.html

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