The family of a man murdered in his home in December has appealed to the public for help in bringing his killer to justice.
Rory Tucker's sister, Holly, discovered her brother's body on Dec. 5 at their home in the 8000 block of Hunnicutt Drive in east Dallas. Her mother, Holly, called her worried because her 46-year-old brother had neglected to visit her weekly. He usually brought groceries and helped his father with bathing.
When Holly arrived at Tucker's home, she found her 2015 silver Hyundai Santa Fe missing and the dogs in the backyard. Upon entering her house, she received the shock of her life.
“I saw him lying on his back on the floor at the end of the bed,” Holly told WFAA. “His hands were tied behind his back and he was strangled.”
“I'm on a mission to find the person who did this to my brother,” she added.
The cause was unclear, but Dallas police initially deemed Tucker's death “unexplained.” A murder investigation wasn't launched until February, when the Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office said he “died of death as a result of a homicidal assault,” according to the Dallas Morning News.
At 3:30 a.m. on Dec. 4, a nearby surveillance camera showed the occupants of Mr. Tucker's car, who had not yet been recovered. Up to $5,000 in unauthorized purchases were also allegedly made on his credit card.
Holly and other loved ones of Tucker were desperate for answers. Police are appealing for anyone with information that could help police to come forward. DPD Det. Joshua Romero is in charge of this case and can be reached at 214-671-4226 or [email protected].
“There's nothing we can do to bring my brother back, but I don't want this to happen to anyone else,” she told NBC 5 DFW. “This pain and grief that my family and his friends are experiencing is tragic.”
The murder occurred in City Councilman Adam Bazaldua's 7th District, which has recorded six homicides this year as of March 14, according to the city's Crime Analytics Dashboard.
In 2023, Dallas saw a 15% increase in homicides citywide over the previous year, with the 7th District having the most homicides at 45. City data also reveals that the overwhelming majority of homicide victims have been, and continue to be, black and Hispanic men.
Overall crime has seen significant increases in certain areas of Dallas, such as downtown Dallas, where a Metroplex Citizens and Business Association study found more crimes per month compared to Fort Worth's city center. It has been regularly shown that there are many In Fort Worth, specialized neighborhood police units and private security guards patrol the downtown area.
Meanwhile, DPD is grappling with a significant staffing shortage, with just 3,000 officers deployed despite a city analysis recommending 4,000 to adequately ensure public safety. ing. Additionally, DPD will get rid of just $654 million in its budget this fiscal year, as city leaders choose to significantly reduce police spending compared to other high-crime areas such as Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York City. did.
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