Police in Texas say that they know what happened to a teenage boy who disappeared more than 52 years ago.
Norman Prater, 16, was last seen walking with friends in January 1973, Fox 4 reported. The network reported that his family reported him missing on Jan. 16 after he never returned home.
According to the Dallas Police Department, Prater's fate was connected to another unsolved mystery that occurred six months later in Arkansas County, Texas: An unsolved, fatal, hit-and-run incident.
The pedestrian killed in that incident was never identified, and police now believe that it was Prater.
"The breakthrough came recently from Dallas' very own Detective Ryan Dalby. By re-examining the Prater case and carefully connecting key details, he was able to establish a potential link between the two seemingly separate incidents," police said in a statement.
Isaac Prater, Norman's brother, was able to confirm that the man killed in the hit-and-run was Norman based on photos.
"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."
