In 1982, Laney Lee McGadney left her four children and went to a grocery store only to be found dead in a nearby vacant lot.
The 28-year-old mom’s body was found that same day when police received a chilling call detailing where she’d been discarded.
“An unknown male called police communications and provided detailed directions to the scene prior to the murder being reported to the public,” police said adding that the tipster described the streets, courts, and curbs leading to the body’s location.
Howard Jackson Bradberry Jr., 62, was charged with first- and second-degree murder, rape, and kidnapping in connection with the cold case.
“At the time of the incident, police collected evidence from the scene and conducted evidence from the scene and conducted a lengthy investigation, but never identified the killer.”
“Since then, cold case investigators have revisited the evidence to determine whether they could identify any new leads. In early 2021, they received results of a DNA test performed on items discarded at the crime scene that linked Bradberry to the crime.”
Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said in a statement that he hopes the arrest of the alleged killer would bring some closure to the young mom’s family.
“I applaud the diligent persistence of our police investigators who, after 40 years, have never given up trying to solve this case.”
