On Nov. 7, 1986, the Garland Police Department responded to a disturbance call in the 3600 block of Colbath Street. Upon arrival at the scene, the officers discovered the body of Barbara Fay Villareal. She had died after being brutally stabbed multiple times. At the time of the incident, now-retired Garland PD detectives collected relative evidence, which included the possible blood of the suspect. At that time, GPD detectives ruled out the victim’s husband as the offender.
Barbara’s murder remained unsolved for years until now.
Current GPD detectives continued to work on this cold case, utilizing relatively new technology, including DNA genealogy. As a result, the detectives learned that the suspect was a close relative to the husband. Consequently, Liborio Canales, brother of the victim’s husband, was identified as a possible suspect.
Liborio, who is now 85 years old, was taken into custody in Lovington, New Mexico where he was questioned about the 1986 murder. The suspect subsequently admitted that he had committed the homicide. He told the detectives that he was upset with Barbara over a family dispute.
Liborio has been charged with murder, and his bond has been set at $1 million. He is currently in the extradition process and will be transported to the Dallas County Jail upon completion.
The Garland Police Department is thankful for the assistance of the Dallas FBI Violent Crimes Task Force, the Lea County Sheriff’s Office and the Lovington, New Mexico, Police Department for helping to bring closure on this cold case and closure for the family of Barbara Fay Villareal.
Note:
The number of cases solved using Forensic Genetic Genealogy, according to Tracey Leigh Dowdeswell, is 545 as of Dec. 31, 2022. Dowdeswell is a professor of criminology and legal studies at Douglas College in Canada. She is the first to put a number on cases solved using this technology. – www.forensicmag.com.