The suspect is now being charged with capital murder in the assault and death of Ruby Battee from 1986.
DALLAS — DNA technology has helped the Dallas Police Department solve a 40-year-old cold case murder, officials say.
In a press release, Dallas police say they have successfully charged the man responsible for the assault and murder of Ruby Battee in 1986.
Police say on May 27, 1986, an unidentified suspect forcefully entered Battee’s residence, where she was later murdered, with evidence also revealing a sexual assault had also occurred.
With little technology available to identify the suspect in 1986, Dallas Homicide Detectives sent swabs from Battee’s original examination and articles of clothing found at the crime scene to the University of North Texas (UNT) Center for Human Identification.
Just recently, on April 13, detectives were notified of a partial male DNA profile found by using the national Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) database. Less than a month later, on May 5, detectives were notified of a match from CODIS found on Battee’s clothing linking to known offender Marvin Lee Holloway.
Hollaway is currently incarcerated with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for the 1988 murder of his co-worker, Emily Proctor.
Detectives gained a search warrant for a DNA sample from Holloway and on May 13, traveled to the prison where Holloway is being held. After obtaining a DNA sample and conducting an interrogation into the murder of Battee, detectives were able to secure a murder warrant for Holloway.
“The Dallas Police Department houses some of the world’s best detectives,” said Chief Comeaux. “They are meticulous, patient, and leave no stone unturned when it comes to investigating cold cases—especially ones where hope seems lost. I could not be prouder of my officers’ work. I hope this serves as a reminder to victims as well as criminals who believe they have gotten away with their crimes. Justice will come.”
Holloway is now being charged with Capitol Murder for the death of Battee, bringing closure to her family, police say.