Lacy Milton Hatchell, a 31-year-old white male, was brutally murdered on December 28, 1984, in Fort Worth, Texas. His body was discovered by newspaper deliverers at around 5:30 a.m., facedown on a sidewalk across from his home in the Summerfield addition of north Fort Worth. Hatchell had been shot in the chest and his face was beaten beyond recognition with what investigators believed to be a tire iron or hammer. An autopsy revealed 62 blunt injuries, primarily on his face, head, neck, back, and upper extremities. His car, a Volkswagen Rabbit, was found parked down the street with a dent from an apparent bullet visible on the rear driver's side panel.
The investigation into Hatchell's murder revealed that the attack was characterized by extreme brutality, leading detectives to believe that the perpetrator was emotionally invested in the crime. Cold case Detective L. Wagner noted that murders motivated by robbery or other mundane reasons rarely involve such brutal rage. This suggested that the attacker had a personal connection to Hatchell, driven by emotions such as hate, jealousy, or love.
Despite long-held suspicions by the police, no one has ever been held accountable for the murder of Lacy Milton Hatchell. His family, including his sister Candace and brother Kevin Cox, have spent over 30 years seeking justice for him. They frequently check in with Fort Worth police cold case detectives and make pleas with the media for stories about the case. Kevin writes letters to the editor on significant anniversaries of Hatchell's death, and Candace fears that once they are gone, there will be no one left to fight for justice for her brother.
Hatchell's death left behind a 5-year-old son, Joshua, who still carries vivid memories of his father. Joshua recalls playing Wiffle ball in the backyard and waiting at the window for his father to come home from work. Despite the passage of time, the family continues to seek the truth and justice for Lacy Milton Hatchell, hoping that one day the killer or killers will be brought to justice.
