safety
Arrest made in decades-old Grapevine cold case murder involving Braniff flight attendant
By Juan Carlos Chaoui and Frank Heinz at NBC DFW
· July 17, 2026
· 4 min read
A 79-year-old man has been arrested and accused of murder in the nearly 50-year-old unsolved strangulation of a Braniff flight attendant following a financial dispute. Officials with the Grapevine Police Department announced Thursday that detectives arrested a suspect in a 1981 homicide investigatio
Key takeaway Officials with the Grapevine Police Department announced Thursday that detectives arrested a suspect in a 1981 homicide investigation.
Why this matters in The Fort Worth
The arrest of Larry Dean Brown in the 1981 murder of Beverly Bruneau brings a measure of closure to a case that has haunted the Grapevine community for nearly five decades. As the investigation continues, residents of Tarrant County, where Grapevine is located, will be watching to see how the case unfolds, particularly given the financial motive that appears to have driven the crime. The fact that Brown was a Braniff employee, like the victim, adds a layer of complexity to the case, highlighting the interconnectedness of the community at the time. The reopening of the case in 2025 and the subsequent arrest demonstrate the commitment of the Grapevine Police Department to solving cold cases, even those that are decades old. As the case moves forward, it will be important to see how the use of forensic DNA testing contributed to the arrest, and whether this technology will be used to crack other unsolved crimes in the area.
About this story
Original reporting by NBC DFW . The Fort Worth surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
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Category: safety ·
Published: July 17, 2026 ·
Source: NBC DFW ·
Reading time: 4 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? A 79-year-old man has been arrested and accused of murder in the nearly 50-year-old unsolved strangulation of a Braniff flight attendant following a financial dispute. Officials with the Grapevine Police Department announced Thursday that detectives arrested a suspect in a 1981 homicide investigatio
When was this published? This article was first published on July 17, 2026 by NBC DFW and curated for The Fort Worth readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Juan Carlos Chaoui and Frank Heinz at NBC DFW. To learn more about how The Fort Worth selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from The Fort Worth, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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