Hattie McFarland, 43, was killed on February 28, 2007, in Houston, Texas, in what became a prolonged cold case investigation. Hattie's body was found in her home after a relative went to check on her when they were unable to reach her. She had been brutally beaten, stabbed, and strangled. Initial investigations into the crime led to several persons of interest being questioned, but no arrests were made at the time due to a lack of solid evidence.
The case went unsolved for years until cold case detectives revisited it, utilizing modern investigative techniques. A significant breakthrough came when they re-examined phone records and collected a DNA sample from a suspect, Anthony Darrell Lankford. This DNA matched evidence found at the crime scene, leading to Lankford's arrest in connection with Hattie's murder nearly 17 years later. He was arrested at his home and subsequently charged with her killing. Authorities hope that this arrest brings some measure of closure to Hattie's family, who have long awaited justice in the case. This outcome also highlights the importance of cold case squads and the evolving capabilities of forensic science in solving longstanding crimes like Hattie's homicide.
