After more than 30 years, a major breakthrough has finally come in the decades-old murder of Megan Johns. On June 10, authorities arrested 61-year-old Darryl Goggans, a former neighbor of Johns, charging him with capital murder in connection with her 1994 stabbing death.
Goggans’ arrest marks a milestone in a case that has haunted the Irving Police Department for over three decades.
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“Thirty years, eight months, and six days is how much time has passed since Megan Johns was brutally murdered on October 5, 1994,” the department said in a statement. “Today, we are proud to announce that an arrest has been made, and the Irving Police Department will be able to see this case through to its conclusion and deliver justice for Megan and her family.”
Megan Johns, then 29, was found dead in her Irving apartment after she failed to show up for work. The apartment manager made the grim discovery, finding her body on the living room floor with multiple stab wounds. Investigators found no signs of forced entry, suggesting that Johns likely knew her attacker and had let them in.
The scene appeared ransacked, leading detectives to believe the suspect may have been searching for something—or that Johns fought fiercely for her life.
Johns had a history of drug and alcohol addiction but was reportedly sober at the time of her death. She had been actively helping others in recovery and was often around individuals with similar pasts.
Despite early efforts, including the discovery of a palm print and multiple interviews, the investigation stalled. With no solid leads, the case eventually went cold.
Years later, investigators returned to the evidence, this time using advanced forensic tools. DNA from the crime scene was analyzed and submitted to the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS).
That submission proved crucial—leading them to Darryl Goggans. Records confirmed he had lived next door to Johns at the time of her murder, placing him directly in the vicinity.
Goggans is now in custody at the Irving City Jail, charged with capital murder. For Megan Johns’ family, the arrest offers long-awaited answers and the possibility of long-overdue justice.
