Texas Cold Case Still Raises Disturbing Questions About Little Elizabeth Barclay’s Death

Elizabeth Barclay was nearly eight years old in October of 1979. She must have felt like a big girl- not only because of her upcoming birthday, but also because she was trusted to walk her younger brother and a family friend as they carried on an errand for her mother.

Texas Girl Elizabeth Barclay Goes Missing

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, Elizabeth was walking down the street near 2900 West Northwest Highway in Dallas, Texas, when she was abducted. Witnesses reported she was struck several times by a black man inside a dark colored vehicle, which was "possibly a 2-door Buick."

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According to a newspaper article, the children (3 and 5 years of age) who accompanied her on the walk described the assailant as a black man who was about 5'10", stocky, and with long sideburns.

They told investigators that the man had exposed himself to the children and had threatened to take Elizabeth and "throw her in the water."

Another witness who saw the incident from an apartment window told police they saw the man hit something repeatedly in the backseat of the vehicle.

Dallas Police "Grasp At Straws" To Find Elizabeth Barclay

With two very young witnesses and one who only saw the incident from a distance, finding Elizabeth, let alone the person who abducted her, would prove difficult. Officers hunted through files on known area sex offenders and tried to identify the vehicle involved.

Read More: Texas Cold Case Gets Major Break From DNA Testing Initiative

However, since this crime was almost certainly random and opportunistic, finding a connection that could break open the case proved impossible.

The Body Of Elizabeth Barclay Found On Her Birthday

Two months after Elizabeth went missing, farm workers found Elizabeth's decomposed remains in a roadside ditch- some of her bones had been scattered by animals. The damage was so extensive that she had to be identified by her dental records.

Tragically, the day she was found would have been her eighth birthday, according to a newspaper article written at the time of the discovery. Bullet casings were discovered with a metal detector, but it is unclear if they were related.

At the time, relatives posted flyers about the case, offering $15,000 for information on who could have killed the little girl they loved. But no one came forward, and the case remains ice cold.

Elizabeth Barclay Still Deserves Justice

The person who did this awful crime is certainly elderly at this point- if they are even alive. However, that doesn't diminish the need for justice for this tiny, 40-pound girl who died before I was born.

And you're probably thinking what I am thinking- anyone willing to go this far with such a young child likely did similar crimes to other children.

Does anyone know anything that could possibly help? I like to think so. Even a tiny little clue could break open this case. If you think you may know something, I encourage you to reach out to CrimeStoppers at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477). You may even receive a cash reward if your tip leads to closure in this case.