New details have been released on the arrest in a 42-year-old cold case in Barton County.

Mary Robin Walker was found fatally shot on January 24, 1980. Through an investigation, Steven Hanks was identified as a person of interest in the case, but no arrest was ever made. Hanks reportedly lived next to Walker at the time of her death.

In April of this year, a Barton County Sheriff’s Deputy was recovering from COVID, and decided to reopen the case and take another look at it. This deputy noticed some initial information had been overlooked, while more information on the case had been added later. Barton County Sheriff, Brian Bellendir, authorized several detectives to work on the case, which involved tracking down people involved in the original case from 1980.

During these efforts, new evidence was obtained in October. This led to a warrant and arrest of Hanks, who is now 68-years-old. He was arrested in Oxford Kansas.

Officials would not comment on the nature of the new evidence that was obtained.

Hanks is expected to make his first court appearance later today or Monday.