Larry Allen West, 68, was arrested and charged on April 13, 2023 with the June 3, 1981 murder of 18-year-old Carol Joyce Deleon in Comal County, Texas.
Deleon’s body was found on June 4, 1981, along the grassy shoulder of the Interstate-35 highway, near a rest area south of New Braunfels. She had been shot six times in the head, and her neck was bruised, suggesting that she had been choked or held down by her attacker. Some of her clothing had been removed, but police state that there was no indication that she was sexually assaulted. She had graduated from high school just a few days before her death.
A DNA profile of the suspect was collected from fingernail scrapings in 2010. A profile of the same male was developed in 2019 from DNA found on Deleon’s body.
There is currently no information as to who conducted the FGG investigation. Police state that three candidates for identification were produced. The investigation was funded by the federal Bureau of Justice Assistance and its Sexual Assault Kit Initiative.
West provided a DNA sample voluntarily to investigators. He told police that in 1981 he often picked up young women in bars, but did not kill Deleon.
Deleon could not be identified until 2009, and was buried as a Jane Doe. Deleon’s family had tried to file a missing persons report in 1981, but were not permitted to do so. It was not until 2007, when they sought assistance from the University of North Texas Center for Unidentified Human Remains that a missing persons report was filed with the San Antonio Police Department.
Two women who had previously been married to West described him as a violent man. One woman stated that she was married to him for only 30 days after he beat and raped her repeatedly. There is no indication that West has a criminal record.
West is facing a charge of murder in Bexar County Criminal District Court. He was released on a $125,000 bond. His next court appearance will be in May of 2023.
Sources:
Croix, Vanessa. “Cold Case Arrest: Man Facing Murder Charge in 1981 Death of San Antonio High School Graduate.” KENS 5 News, April 14, 2023. Accessed April 15, 2023. https://www.kens5.com/article/news/crime/cold-case-arrest-murder-1981-death-san-antonio-carol-joyce-deleon-larry-allen-west/273-82a6f3f8-4680-4905-a9b5-8e66a6917ebc.
Frazar, Felicia. “Texas Rangers Make Arrest in 41-Year-Old Comal County Murder Case.” Seguin Gazette, April 14, 2023. Accessed April 15, 2023. https://seguingazette.com/alert/texas-rangers-make-arrest-in-41-year-old-comal-county-murder-case/article_9825130a-dad3-11ed-a0b2-cf3008796779.html.
King, Cody. “Man Released from Jail After Being Charged with Murder in Decades-Old Cold Case, Records Show.” KSAT News, April 15, 2023. Accessed April 15, 2023. https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2023/04/15/man-released-from-jail-after-being-charged-with-murder-in-decades-old-cold-case-records-show/.
Texas Department of Public Safety. “Texas Rangers Cold Case Investigation Details: Carol Joyce Deleon.” Texas Department of Public Safety. Last modified April 13, 2023. Accessed April 15, 2023. https://www.dps.texas.gov/coldCase/Home/Details/1.
Texas Department of Public Safety. “Advanced DNA Testing in 1981 Rape Kit Leads to Arrest.” Forensic Magazine, April 21, 2023. Accessed April 21, 2023. https://www.forensicmag.com/596323-Advanced-DNA-Testing-on-1981-Rape-Kit-Leads-to-Arrest/.