1970s cold case cracked after detective finds link decades later

The Dallas Police Department has solved a cold case spanning more than five decades, the department announced earlier this month.

The 52-year-old mystery began Jan. 14, 1973, when 16-year-old Norman Prater’s family reported him missing to the police department. An investigation was launched, but it remained active and unsolved.

It ultimately took a dogged detective to make headway in Prater’s disappearance by connecting the missing person’s case and a seemingly unrelated hit-and-run that occurred months later on July 9, 1973, on Highway 35 in Rockport, Texas, a city in Aransas County, approximately 380 to 400 miles south of Dallas.

How was the case solved?

Despite efforts from local authorities to determine the hit-and-run victim’s identity, it remained unknown, police said in a release on Jan. 2.

Dallas Detective Ryan Dalby re-examined the missing person’s case and managed to found a link between Prater’s disappearance and the hit-and-run.

His detective work established “a compelling match between the unidentified 1973 hit-and-run victim and Prater,” the department said in a statement.

Dalby contacted Prater’s brother, Isaac Prater, and confirmed Prater was the hit-and-run victim.

What have police said?

"This resolution stands as a testament to the Dallas Police Department's commitment to the cases we pursue and the families we serve, no matter how much time has passed," said Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux.

"Detective Dalby's dedication, skill, and compassion have not only solved a historical case but have performed the most vital duty of our Missing Persons Unit: providing closure to a grieving family."

The department said it extends its deepest sympathies to the Prater family.

No additional details about the discovery were revealed, including how Prater managed to travel nearly 400 miles from home or what happened between January and July.

USA TODAY contacted the Dallas Police Department and Aransas County officials for additional information.

Michelle Del Rey is a trending news reporter. Reach her at [email protected]