What You Need to Know
• Eric Johnson, 39, was arrested for the 2012 murder of 16-month-old Shawn McCloskey in La Porte, Texas.
• The arrest followed new evidence obtained during the Texas Attorney General’s “Texas Solves: Collaboration Workshop” in May.
• An autopsy revealed that Shawn McCloskey suffered multiple blunt force injuries, leading to a homicide ruling.
Eric Johnson, a 39-year-old man, has been arrested in La Porte, Texas, in connection with the 2012 murder of 16-month-old Shawn McCloskey. The arrest was made by the La Porte Police Department and follows new developments from the Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s Office, which held a “Texas Solves: Collaboration Workshop” in May. On July 19, 2012, Shawn McCloskey was found unresponsive by his mother after being cared for by Johnson, who was her boyfriend at the time. An autopsy determined that the toddler had sustained multiple blunt force injuries, and his death was ruled a homicide. Johnson was identified as a primary suspect early in the investigation conducted by La Porte police detectives.
Why It Matters
This case highlights ongoing efforts to solve cold cases in Texas, particularly through collaborative workshops led by the Texas Attorney General’s Office. The murder of Shawn McCloskey, which remained unresolved for over a decade, underscores the challenges law enforcement faces in obtaining new evidence in cold cases. Attorney General Ken Paxton’s Cold Case Unit aims to bring justice to victims and their families by leveraging new investigative techniques and community collaboration. The successful arrest in this case may encourage further investigations into similar unresolved cases across the state.
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