Police News Sept. 07

Transcription

THE POLICE NEWS
VOLUME IV, NUMBER 9
GULF COAST EDITION
September 2007
She Hired An Ex-Con Children Grieve Savage
He Killed Her Daughter…Left Her For Dead
By Marie Beth Jones
trung out on drugs and looking for
money to buy more, Gary Wayne
Etheridge, 26, a recent parolee
from the Texas Department of Corrections,
stopped in the driveway of the quiet suburban residence of his boss, Gail Chauviere,
late on the afternoon of Feb. 2, 1990.
When Etheridge drove away a short time
later, Gail's 15-year-old daughter, Christie
Chauviere lay dead on the blood-soaked floor
of the den, and Gail, who had been stabbed
more than 30 times, had collapsed nearby.
About 6 p.m. a neighbor stopped by the
Chauviere residence in the Tamarwind
Woods neighborhood near Richwood, Texas
to ask Christie to baby sit his children. When
he entered the house in response to Gail's
cries for help, he found Christie bound and
gagged, her body nude from the waist down.
Her mother, who had been critically
injured, lay on the floor near the foot of the
stairs.
Gary Stroud, an investigator for the
Brazoria County Sheriff's Office, said
Etheridge had fled the scene in Gail's 1989
Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, leaving his
own vehicle in the Chauviere driveway.
Gail, 49, was employed as manager of condominiums near Surfside Beach, Stroud
said.
Her management company, taking advantage of a $20 — $21K dollar tax break
offered to employers hiring a parolee, had
employed Etheridge to work at the condos. A
Freeport resident, Etheridge had been
paroled from prison less than two months
earlier.
Christie Chauviere was pronounced dead
at the scene by Justice of the Peace Roy
Knopp.
Gail was taken by ambulance to
Brazosport Memorial Hospital, for emergency treatment.
Stroud and Ollie Falks, also a Brazoria
County Sheriffs Office Investigator, were able
to speak with Gail briefly in the emergency
room at Brazosport Hospital.
"We got into sterile gear and showed her a
photo lineup on video, and she was able to
put her finger on the picture of Etheridge,"
S
Stroud said. "She did not hesitate. A single
tear ran from her eye when she identified
him."
Gail was transferred to a Houston hospital,
where she underwent surgery early Saturday
morning and again at about noon that day,
Stroud said, crediting Dr. "Red" Duke of
Houston with "absolutely saving her life"
despite the severity of her injuries.
Beating Death of Parents
Cleveland Murder Goes Cold, Investigators Stymied
By Jamie Nash — The Police News
LIBERTY COUNTY – Many Residents of
Liberty County and East Montgomery
County still recall a sunny spring day in
Cleveland, when an elderly couple was
beaten to death inside their home.
After a lifetime together, raising 14 children,
Maria and Antonio Rodriquez went to their
graves at the hands of a vicious killer that has yet
to be brought to justice.
(courtesy photo)
Gary Wayne Etheridge, upon his arrest
in 1997
A widespread manhunt for Etheridge
began. His physical description and a
description of Gail's car were broadcast over
a wide area.
Investigators learned that after the attack,
Etheridge had picked up his baby daughter
and his common-law wife, Teresa Erwin, who
was baby sitting a friend's children.
After dropping off the other children with
their mother, Etheridge and Teresa drove to
Houston, left their daughter with relatives
then drove to Mobile, Ala., where he dropped
Teresa at a motel.
Brazoria County investigators received
information that Teresa had left the area
with Etheridge and was in the motel in
Mobile.
They made contact with her by telephone
and learned that Etheridge had bought a
change of clothes and dyed his hair and eyebrows black in an effort to alter his appearance. Deputies were sent to bring her back
continued on page 11 (Ex-Con)
With a population of around only 8,000,
very little goes unnoticed. Their pristine
brick home sat on a corner lot on Waco
Street in the middle of town, with an unobstructed view of the front and back doors
from multiple directions, making it even
more difficult to imagine that no one saw
anything.
Sometime around when the church bells
rang twelve times signaling the noon hour
on April 14, 2005, someone savagely murdered 80-year-old Antonio Rodriguez and
his wife, 77-year-old Maria De La Luz
Rodriguez.
Two-and-a-half years later, no one has
been arrested, and the family says they are
unable to move on knowing that someone
capable of such brutality is free to kill others.
Carolina Tejeda, one of the Rodriguez' ten
natural children of fourteen the couple
raised, was responsible for the care of her
parents. She was also the last person
besides the killer or killers to see them
alive.
Tejeda reached her parents' home around
7:45 a.m. each morning to cook breakfast
for them, then bathe and groom her mother, who was frail and nearly bedridden.
Antonio Rodriguez could do more, but
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he had undergone open heart surgery and
breathed with only one and a quarter lung.
He still drove his small white sedan short
distances, mostly to the corner store to buy
scratch-off lottery tickets, which was his
favorite pastime.
"If he didn't have money for them, he was
kind of grumpy," Tejeda laughed.
The World War II veteran served under
General Eisenhower in Germany and his
family said he never lost some of his military habits, like waking before daylight
every day. He often went to the store before
Tejeda arrived.
"My dad, sometimes he would already be
scratching his little lottery tickets," she
said.
Tejeda said her parents had shelves in the
living room with statues of Jesus and other
Biblical saints, which her father thanked
and prayed to when he won money with his
lottery tickets.
Her parents had a devout faith, Tejeda
said, and always blessed her and anyone
else as they were leaving. Their final day
was no different.
It began happily, with a phone call from
Tejeda's brother Marty, a military reservist
working as a body guard in Iraq.
Tejeda was braiding her mother's hair
when the call came. Her brother joked that
his Mother's Day gift would arrive before
those of his siblings, saying he sent his
mother flowers and candy and sent patriotic decorated cookies to his dad. Martin
Rodriguez was also scheduled to be home
for a visit soon and Tejeda said her parents
were delighted.
Around 10 a.m., Tejeda left her parents to
drive her son to work at La Casita, her sister
Norma Rodriguez' restaurant in Porter. She
would pick up lunch for her parents then
serve them and watch television with them
for a while, which was part of a daily ritual.
continued on page 14 (Cold Murder Case)
ON THE SCENE with
The Police News
THE POLICE NEWS
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Copyright 2007
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MONTGOMERY COUNTY - Kamal Kaur,
19, of Houston, died in the Toyota
Camry seen beneath the truck in this
photo. According to investigators, the
woman was likely using her cell phone
while driving on FM 149 near Spring
Branch Road when she veered into the
path of the oncoming truck.
(thepolicenews.net)
Jamie Nash photo.
Joe
❝
He saw the train
And tried to duck it
Kicked first the gas
And then the bucket
❞
THE POLICE NEWS
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Liar ,Liar, Pants on Fire!
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jail for lying
GALVESTON –Manuel Benitez
wont' do that
again!
He
appeared
before State
Manuel Benitez
District Judge
Lonnie Cox in Galveston for a hearing
to determine whether he should be
required to have a breathalyzer
installed in his vehicle as a condition
of his bond on a DWI charge.
When Benitez told the judge he no
longer had a vehicle.
Enforcement
Officer
Karen
Henderson stepped up to report that
there were four vehicles registered in
Benitez's name. Mr. Benitez claimed
to have sold the cars to "cousins".
When asked how he got to court this
morning he replied that a friend had
dropped him off and would be back to
pick him up in a couple of hours.
His Honor instructed Benitez to have
a seat in the court room and not to
leave until his "friend" returned for
him. While he waited, the enforcement officer roamed the parking lot
looking for the any of the four cars registered to Benitez.
She didn't have to look very long.
There, on the side of an SUV, was a
huge sign reading "MANUEL BENITEZ,
ALL PHASE CONSTRUCTION". A photograph of the vehicle was taken to the
Judge and "OUCH", Benitez was
ordered to jail on a $100,000 bond.
INDEX
She Hired An Ex-Con
Children Grieve Savage Beating Death of Parents
Fugitives
Letters to the Editor
A Two Year Pursuit Ends In The Attic
Murder in the Cop Shop: Part2 'The Trial'
Hal’s Satellite TV
10611 FM-1764
Santa Fe, TX
Page 2 - Gulf Coast Police News
(409) 927-2570
Crystal Beach Rape & Murder
Texas Executions
Sex Offenders
Rogues' Gallery
pages 1–11 & 22
pages 1-14 & 20
pages 4–5 & 6
page 7
pages 8 & 16
pages 13, 26 & 27
pages 16
pages 18-19
pages 23–24 & 25
page 28
Across
1. Young codfish
6. "Lohengrin" heroine
10. Marquand's Mr.
14. Like a hermit
15. Serve the coffee
16. Bone-dry
17. Memorization must for grade-schoolers
19. Marathon, e.g.
20. Separator
21. Removes knots from
23. Met melodies
26. Fla. neighbor
27. Stave off
30. Assault, in a way
32. Off the mark
36. Galileo's home
37. Change, as in city planning
39. Actress Thompson
40. Fencing equipment?
43. Schooner filler
44. Ear woe
45. Kennedy's Secretary of State
46. Not so strict
48. Recreational wheels, for short
49. Motel posting
50. Bowl yell
52. Word with worm- or moth54. Hood with an oily hairdo
58. Most dispassionate
62. "Peanuts" expletive
63. Bit of desktop publishing, maybe
66. Start the kitty
67. Epitome of thinness
68. Commandments mount
69. Luminary
70. Without purpose
71. Sings like Ella
Down
1. Srs.' hurdles
2. Pretzel-bag resealer
3. Colosseo site
4. Typical diamond size
5. Wasteland
6. Clean-air org.
7. Toss, as a grenade
8. Crewmate of Uhura
9. Gladiator's venue
10. Robin's sweetie
11. Algerian seaport
12. Watch word?
13. Praiseful poems
18. Bi- plus one
22. __ light (movie-set illumination)
24. Aviator Earhart
25. Crepe __
27. Horrify
28. String quartet need
29. Roaring Twenties auto
31. Upscale chocolatier
33. Alaska native
34. By itself
35. Things to do
37. Hogwash
38. Serbian city
41. Bar Mitzvah dances
42. Of a hard rock
47. Pink end
49. Playground time
51. Matisse or Rousseau
53. Up to, informally
54. Foie __
55. Deliver a tirade
56. Kett of old comics
57. "__ 'em and weep!"
59. Sicilian landmark
60. Every county has one
61. Speaker in Cooperstown
64. Actor Wheaton
65. "You __ dog, you!"
Solution on page 21
Coupon must be presented on first visit. Exp: 9/30/07
Gulf Coast Police News - Page 3
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UGITIVES
Clark, April Leann
W/F DOB: 4/26/1983
LKA – Unk Richwood, Tx.
Wrt # 51714 Alias Capias Sur to
Sur/Intoxication Manslaughter
Felony/Misdemeanor/Traffic
Non-Arrest Bonds/JP Bonds
RAZORIA
OUNTY
If you have information on any of these wanted fugitives call the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office (979) 864-2392
or Crime Stoppers 1-800-460-2222
Campbell, Raymond
W/M DOB: 6-29-1979
LKA – 256 Pecan #1 Clute, Tx.
Wrt # 46979 Alias Capias MTAG /
Indecency with Child Sexual
No Standing in Line
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Essett, Othella Hayes
B/F DOB: 8/20/1969
LKA – 8307 Cayton Houston, Tx.
Wrt # 49140 Alias Capias
MTR/Injury child/elderly/disabledcriminal negligence
Garcia, Alberto
W/M DOB: 6/23/1985
LKA – 3118 Hatfield Rd. Trailer # 7
Pearland, Tx.
Wrt # 47287 Alias Capias MTR / Injury
child/elderly/disable w/intent - bodily
injury
Garcia, Miguel
W/M DOB: 3/9/1977
LKA – 519 N. Shirley # 42 Alvin,
Tx.
Wrt # 45502 Alias Capias MTAG /
Indecency with Child - Sexual
Contact
Goode, Jamie Lewis
W/M DOB: 2/12/1982
LKA – 6726 Windmill Lane Memphis, Tn
Wrt # 54096 Alias Capias Numerous
counts of Forgery Bond Forf/Forgery
6831 Broadway Suite. F
Pearland, Texas 77584
Owned & Operated by
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Office: 281-412-7358
Fax: 281-412-7354
Mon-Fri 9am - 7pm
Saturday 10am - 7pm
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(409) 621-4000
Clean, Full Sized Cars and
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24 Hour a Day Service
On the Island or Off the Island
Lewis, Quinton D
B/M DOB: 2/12/1985
LKA – 4503 Russett Pl. North
Pearland, Tx.
Wrt # 54704 Capias Sexual
Assault of a Child
MORELAND, MITCHELL EDWARD
W/M DOB: 6/23/1971
UNKNOWN - CLUTE, TEXAS
WRT # 45736 ALIAS CAPIAS
AGG. ASSAULT W/DEADLY
WEAPON, AGG. ASSAULT
SERIOUS BODILY INJ/CRIMINAL
EPISODE
Loya, Belinda
W/F DOB: 9/18/1969
LKA – 2743 Morenci Pearland, Tx.
77584
Wrt # DJ-009631 Alias Capias Sur
To Sur / Prohib Subst Correctional
Facility
NINO, ANDRES JR
W/M DOB: 9/24/1982
10708 CR 583A ALVIN, TX.
WRT # D-043541
WARRANT SEX OFFENDERS DUTY
TO REGISTER
WANTED
F
—G
C
UGITIVES
ALVESTON
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OUNTY
TONY
&
If you have information on any of these wanted fugitives call the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office (409) 766-2322
or your local Crime Stoppers organization
CRISP, TRACY LEIGH
AKA CONNER, TONI
AKA CRISP, GIDGET
W
F
09/29/1964
5’00”
98 lbs H-BLN E-HAZ
PHOTO SEVERAL YEARS OLD
LKA HITCHCOCK
WARRANT
BURG HABITATION
JACKSON, LATOYA CHARONDA
B F
05/11/1981
5’05”
160 lbs H-BRO E-BRO
MOLE LIP
TAT. R. ARM
PIERCED NOSE
LKA
GALVESTON
DEADLY CONDUCT
DAVY, BARBARA RENEE
W
F
10/01/1974
5’05”
130 lbs H-BRO E- BRO
TAT LOWER BACK
LKA LEAGUE CITY
CREDIT CARD ABUSE
B
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MONTGOMERY, DORIS MARIE
AKA MOORE, DORIS MARIE
W
F
04/18/1966
5”04” 220 lbs
H-BLN E-BLU
LKA GALVESTON
MTRP BOND $60,000
CREDIT CARD ABUSE
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Yearly Maintenance Program Available
ROBINSON, WENDY SUE
05/07/1980 5’06” 120 lbs
H-BLN E-BRO
MULTI TATS AND MULTI BODY
PIERCINGS
LKA SANTA FE
FORGERY & AFF TO SURRENDER
SALAS, SHANNON CHRISTINE AKA
HEICHELHEIM, SHANNON CHRISTINE
WOOTON, SHANNON CHRISTINE
W
F
12/24/1972
H-BRO E-GRN 5’05” 110 lbs
LKA GALVESTON
POSS COCAINE & ORDER OF COURT
SCHAFFER, CONNIE SUE
AKA SATTERLY, CONNIE SUE
W
F
10/14/1959
5’06” 130 lbs H-RED E-GRN
LKA BACLIFF
TAT L. ANKLE
MTRP
POSS CONTROLLED SUB
SLOVAK, SHARI UNDERWOOD
AKA SYMBALSKI, SHARI
W
F
11/24/1960
5’08” 140 lbs H-BRO E-BLU
SCAR STOMACH
LKA LEAGUE CITY
POSS CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE
TOLBERT, RHONDA FAYE
AKA RUE, RHONDA
B
F
09/06/1968
5’09” 160 lbs H-BLK E-BRO
LKA LAMARQUE
AFF TO SURRENDER
ROBBERY
MULTIPLE WARRANTS
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WDI Inspections
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Steve Spicer – Owner
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www.escopestcontrolinc.com
W
WILLIAMS, CHARLOTTE ANN
B
F
04/15/1966
5’07” 285 lbs H-BLK E-BRO
TAT R. SHOULDER
TAT CHEST
LKA GALVESTON
POSS CONTROLLED SUB
BOND $40,000
D M O T OR C O MP
OO4922
W
AN
GRAVES RD.
IN
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Y
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Serving Galveston County
and Surrounding Area
WANTED
F
—M
C
UGITIVES
ONTGOMERY
OUNTY
If you have information on any of these wanted fugitives call Crime Stoppers 1-800-932-STOP (7867)
Bruhl, Robert Kingsley
White/Male DOB:09/23/1945
LKA: 19511 Turtle Creek,
Magnolia, Tx
Aggravated Assault
Warrant #070606697
Howard, Gary Lee
White/Male DOB:10/09/1981
LKA: 410 Lucy Ln. Pinehurst, Tx
Aggravated Assault
Warrant #070707194
MacLennan, Courtney Elizabeth
White Female DOB: 03/14/1981
LKA: 3500 Tangle Brush #121, The
Woodlands, Tx
Order of Arrest - Injury to a Child
Warrant #060504444
Otto, Stephen Andrew
White Male DOB: 10/21/1972
LKA: 6443 Pine Shadows,
Cleveland, Tx
Motion to Adjudicate
Injury to the Elderly
Warrant #050100094
Pena, Marco Tulio
Hispanic Male DOB: 02/20/1958
LKA: 1651 Northwood, Houston, Tx
or 4503 Werner Rd #5, Houston, Tx
Felony Theft
Warrant #070606597
Smith, Kevin Lee
White/Male DOB: 10/24/1976
LKA: 30635 Hazy Meadow,
Magnolia, Tx
Assault causing Bodily Injury
Warrant #070707205
5401 Broadway 409-740-4276
Galveston, Tx 77551 5am – 6pm
Chandara & Eric are not responsible for any COP jokes told in this
donut house.
“TRUE LOVE”
A man and his wife were driving on the highway
when a state trooper appears in their mirror and obviously wants them to pull over. The man pulls over and
the officer approaches the car.
Trooper: " License and registration please"
Man:" I'm sorry officer what seems to be the problem?"
Trooper : " I clocked you on the radar going 75
mph."
Man: "There must be some mistake I was only
going 65."
Wife: "Oh Harold, you were going at least 80!"
Trooper: " I'm also citing you for having a tail light
out."
Man: "But officer, I wasn't aware it was out."
Wife: "Oh Harold, you knew it was out for two
months."
Trooper: "I'm also fining you for not wearing your
seat belt."
Man: "But officer, I just took it off as you were
approaching my car."
Wife: "Oh Harold, you know you never wear your
seat belt."
Man: "Listen you dumb %^?!* shut your *^&%#
mouth."
Trooper: " Ma'am, does he always talk to you this
way?"
Wife: " Only when he's drunk"
Stang, Richard Benjamin
White Male DOB:06/24/1981
LKA: 15187 Crowley Rd. Conroe, Tx
Aggravated Assault
Warrant #070707543
Taylor, Isaiah Lee
Black Male DOB: 09/15/1989
LKA: Not available
Convicted of Robbery, Harris County
Bond Forfeiture
Felony Theft
Warrant #070201058
Tamez, Jason Rene
Hispanic Male DOB: 10/08/1985
LKA: 11020 CR-302, Plantersville, Tx
Felony Theft
Warrant #070504419
Watts, Travis William
White Male DOB: 11/22/1987
LKA: 3227 Abbott Lakes Ln,
Spring, Tx
Bond Forfeiture
Felony Theft
Warrant #070404234
The Mailbox
Dear Editor;
I read The Police News
for the first time today
and was very impressed. It was very
interesting and informative. I happen to
know one of the families in the front
page story and received information I
did not know.
I live in the Rosharon area so it is not
available here. I wish it was. Thank
you for a very enjoyable reading break.
Wendi Bent
Rosharon
Note from the editor: Thank you
Wendi. You will be pleased to know that
THE POLICE NEWS will be available in
at least two locations in Rosharon
beginning with our September issue.
others, a painful truth.
After our interview I felt extremely vulnerable and scared. I have to face my
past and the truth.
I wanted to tell you Thank You for
being an obvious part of my journey.
Facing my fears, the truth and owning it.
Thanks for not being judgmental and
choosing to be understanding. I thank
you.
Respectfully,
Tamara Smith #1014630
Carole Young Medical Facility
Texas Department of Corrections
Texas City, TX
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Dear Mr. Porter,
Greetings – Thanks for being so kind
during my interview. (At the Carole
Young Prison Unit in Texas City)
You truly know how to make someone
feel comfortable. You're a kind person.
I am embarrassed of my poor choices.
However, I try real hard to improve my
life. I caused a death and endangered
WEST END WASH
THE POLICE NEWS
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43rd & Broadway
CREATIONS UPHOLSTERY
A Two Year Pursuit Ends In The Attic
A Victim Arrested For Harboring Her Kidnapper
By Breck Porter
TEXAS CITY – Adrian Dewayne Gary, a
local thug well known to Texas City Police
and police in neighboring counties, probably thought for two years that he was pretty darn smart. Most crooks do, until they
get caught.
The 31-year old criminal moved around
unnoticed and untouched in Texas City
and Southwest Houston while there were a
half dozen, or more, outstanding felony
warrants for his arrest, some dating back
to 2005, and he was being sought by a
U.S. Marshals task force during Operation
Falcon.
David Gillioz, Owner
409-927-2747
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409-632-0026
12410 STEWART ROAD
Adrian Dewayne Gary
Operation Falcon was a nationwide fugitive apprehension operation coordinated
by the U.S. Marshals Service and included
federal, state, city and county law enforcement agencies combined to locate and
apprehend criminals wanted for crimes of
violence.
There were two officers assigned to work
Operation Falcon with the Marshals
Service that had a special interest in
Adrian Gary.
Texas City Police
Department Warrant Officer William
Leacroy knew the crook well. He had
dealt with him before and he was not
happy that Gary had been able to avoid
arrest for so long. When Operation Falcon
was organized, Police Chief Robert Burby
assigned Leacroy to join the hunt for Gary
and a list of other fugitives along the Texas
Gulf Coast that were on the run or hunkered down in a hiding place.
Another veteran lawman, Ross
McCammon, was assigned to work
Operation Falcon by Precinct Eight
Constable Jerry Fisher of Galveston
County. McCammon, a retired Houston
Police Officer, was hired by Fisher exclusively to track down hard-to-find crooks.
He is a bounty hunter with a badge but no
bounty. His bounty is the thrill of the
chase and the victory of the capture.
McCammon's marching orders from
Fisher was to 'go wherever you've got to
go' to arrest these felony criminals. And
that's what he does.
Several weeks ago, as members of the
Operation Falcon initiative, Leacroy and
McCammon made a run on a home on
Fuqua Street in Houston where they had
information that Adrian Gary was hiding.
They didn't find him there but they did find
Erin Ashley Jack, Gray's 23-year old girl
friend. Leacroy and McCammon, armed
with a stack of felony warrants for Gray,
searched the house to no avail. During the
search the officers noticed a shotgun in
one of the bedrooms.
After leaving the house, Leacroy and
McCammon made some stops in the
neighborhood asking questions and leaving their business cards with neighbors in
hopes one of them would call if they saw
Gary in the area.
About two months later a call came in.
Gary was seen going into the house on
Fuqua. McCammon called Leacroy and
the two headed to Fuqua in McCammon's
unmarked car. They found an inconspicuous parking spot down the street with a
clear view of the house and they waited.
"The girlfriend came home and we
decided to wait a little longer because we
weren't sure if he was in there or not," said
Leacroy. "Sure enough, about 30 minutes
later he drives up in her car."
Now the officers knew he was in there.
They also knew that there was a shotgun
in the house and they knew that he was a
violent offender. To be on the safe side
they called for backup from the Houston
Police Department, McCammons Alma
Mater. Three marked HPD units soon
arrived with officers from the Southeast
Command Station, Warrants Division.
Another unit pulled up with police K-9 and
overhead an HPD helicopter circled, flooding the entire neighborhood with its powerful search light.
The officers banged on the door and
identified themselves. There was a delay
before the girlfriend finally opened the
door. She denied that Gary was in the
house, evident to the officers that she was
stalling them to allow Gary either time to
escape out the back door or retreat into a
hiding place inside the house. Since they
had the back door covered it was unlikely
Gary would choose that route.
Remember, he's a smart crook.
The officers went in. Right off they
noticed a bag of marijuana on a table and
a loaded .45 caliber automatic pistol. Erin
Jacks was a nurse. A .45 was not part of
her uniform.
Police officers swept through the downstairs then made their way to the second
floor. They still had not seen the shotgun
continued on page 16 (Attic)
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GALVESTON - Galveston Police interrupted these ladies business as they practiced
their trade in the Bunny Club and Sweet Apple Club in Galveston. Kum Suk
Fussell, 40, (L) was booked for being a very bad girl and her bonds totaled
$129,000. Sun Jex, 51, (R) was also a bad girl but only $30,000 worth. Another
member of their club was also charged with naughty stuff but the cops haven't
found her yet.
(thepolicenews.net)
SOME DAYS, IT JUST DOESN'T PAY!
Fire investigators in Texas have determined the cause of a
blaze that destroyed a $127,000 home last month — a short in
the homeowner's newly installed fire prevention alarm system.
"This is even worse than last year," said the distraught homeowner, "when someone broke in and stole my new security system..."
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Galveston, Tx. 77550
wtanner2@houston.rr.com
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continued from page 1 (Ex-Con)
to Brazoria County for further questioning.
Despite his relative youth, Etheridge had a
long record of criminal activities and prison
sentences, but had never served and entire
sentence in any of the cases.
A year after receiving a five-year probated
sentence on a plea of guilty to burglary of a
residence, his probation was revoked when
he was arrested for delivery of a controlled
substance and failure to report to his parole
officer.
He was sentenced to two-to-five years on
the revocation, but was released before serving the full term, and the substance delivery
charges were dropped in exchange for his
pleading guilty in another burglary case.
The burglary of a Freeport office in
September of 1983 led to a five-year prison
sentence, but again Etheridge was released
before serving the entire sentence.
While in TDC in 1984, he was charged with
the attempted murder and aggravated
assault of another inmate, who he stabbed
six times in the abdomen. Etheridge plea
bargained to the lesser charge and received
concurrent ten-year prison sentences for
aggravated assault and another burglary
charge.
On Dec. 22, 1989, just 42 days before the
attack on the Chauvieres, Etheridge was
released from prison on parole.
About 4 a.m. Feb. 6, 1990, the Brazoria
County Sheriff's Office was notified that
Etheridge was in Houston, in the vicinity of
Almeda and MacGregor streets.
Brazoria County investigators and members of the Houston Police SWAT team
searched the area, but failed to locate him.
Etheridge would later tell them that he had
been watching the search from inside a nearby service station.
A few hours later, in circumstances authorities described as "pure, blind luck,"
Etheridge was apprehended as he hitched a
ride back to Brazoria County.
Paul Day, a Houston Police SWAT team
officer driving toward the Ramsey prison
complex for training at the firing range, saw
Etheridge hitchhiking along SH 288 near the
Brazoria County line.
Recognizing him from photos, Day picked
him up and asked his name. Etheridge first
denied his identity, but after Day showed him
a photo, he admitted that he was the man
wanted in the slaying, and offered no resistance.
Etheridge told Day he was headed home to
see his wife and baby and his parents before
turning himself in.
Judge Knopp, who arraigned Etheridge at
the Brazoria County Detention Center, set
his bond at $250,000 on a charge of capital
murder, which is punishable by death or life
imprisonment.
During Etheridge's trial, in October of
1990, spectators filled the 239th District
Courtroom of Judge J. Ray Gayle III.
District Attorney Jim Mapel and Assistant
DA Tom Selleck prosecuted the case.
Etheridge was defended by attorneys Greg
Donnell and Jim Coate.
Although Etheridge entered a not guilty
plea, the prosecution presented his taped
and written statements that clearly indicated
his guilt.
In these statements he said he had been
shooting cocaine prior to going to Gail
Chauviere's home to borrow money for more
drugs.
Earlier that day he had gone to a dope
house on Freeport's East Sixth Street, where
he bought $50 worth of powder cocaine and
shot up a portion of it while he was still
there, he said.
According to his statements he shot up
more while in his car alongside Gulf
Boulevard, and still more after locking himself in a bathroom for an hour and a half at
the residence where his wife was babysitting.
About 4:30 p.m. he left to go to the
Chauviere home to borrow money for more
drugs, he said, explaining that he knew
where they lived because he had been there
earlier when Gail gave him a puppy.
He said Christie opened the door at the
Chauviere residence, and he grabbed Gail's
money bag. When Gail and Christie "freaked
out," he ordered them to sit down and shut
up, and began looking for something to gag
them with.
According to his statements, he told
Christie to remove her pants and socks, and
tried to gag her with the pants, but was
unable to do so.
Much of his memory of what happened
was unclear, he told the investigators,
adding, "I don't remember stabbing her."
In these statements he denied sexually
assaulting the girl, but said he tied her hands
and led Gail to a closet, but she turned
around and cut one of his fingers with something that she got off a nearby cabinet.
He said he then grabbed Gail by her hair,
pushed her down in the hallway, and kicked
her.
Christie was screaming, and he was fighting both of them, he said in the statements,
adding, "The next thing I remember is I was
running outside and I had my pocket knife in
my hand and it was all bloody."
Etheridge told officers he remembered
holding his pocket knife when he left the
house. Although he didn't remember any
cutting or stabbing, when he left, "they were
laying there" he said, adding that he was
scared and freaked out.
Etheridge said when his car would not
start, he went back into the house, found
Gail's car keys and drove to where Teresa
was baby sitting. After dropping off the other
children, he and Teresa drove to Houston,
left their baby with relatives, and drove east.
He said he bought new clothes at a WalMart in Mobile, Ala., and dyed his hair before
leaving Teresa in a motel nearby. He emphasized in his statements that Teresa had nothing to do with the attack.
Lorene McCreight, who had stopped by the
continued on page 22 (Ex-Con)
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KEMAH - This man, 54-year old Stacy
Michael Maloney, made a sex date
online with a minor girl, or so he
thought. When he arrived at the meeting place with his Viagra pills, the girl
turned out to be a squadron of Kemah
cops.The jury sent him on a date in
Huntsville for four years and 113 days
and fined him $13.
(the policenews.net)
CONROE - Known in law enforcement
circles as the "Meth Queen", 24-year
old Candis Morgan pleaded guility in
Montgomery County to smuggling
drugs to Aryan Brotherhood members
inside the county jail. She is considered a major trafficker of drugs
between Dallas and Montgomery
County according to the Montgomery
County Sheriff's Department.
(thepolicenews.net)
ANGLETON - This man, Jerome Heath
Novak, 28, is a cattle rustler and just like
in the olden days, he got caught by the
Sheriff and he went to prison. The
Angleton man pled guilty to stealing over
300 head of cattle in several counties
including Brazoria and Fort Bend. One of
his victims was Hall of Fame baseball legend Nolan Ryan, a Brazoria County
rancher. The beef-on-the-hoof cost Novak
10 years in the pen plus $69,700 in restitution.
(thepolicenews.net)
It was the end of the day when I parked my police van in front of the
station. As I gathered my equipment, my K-9 partner, Jake, was barking, and I saw a little boy staring in at me "Is that a dog you got back
there?" he asked. "It sure is," I replied. Puzzled, the boy looked at me
and then towards the back of the van. Finally he said, "What'd he do?"
GULF SIDE
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Murder in the Cop Shop:
By Breck Porter
Sunday, May 23, 1948 - The day before
the trial of Floyd Cox, who faced the death
penalty for killing police officer Bennie Elrod
with his own gun in the police station booking office, the story headline in the
Galveston News read, "Cox Murder Case,
Starting Monday, Sizing Up As Most
Sensational Courtroom Duel in Years."
There were conflicting versions being circulated around town about what happened
that night after Elrod hauled Cox and his girl
friend, Harriett Hanson to jail for fighting in
the Hub Tavern downtown.
In every coffee shop and restaurant, every
hotel and barber shop, shine parlor and hair
salon, the talk was about whether or not
Elrod was actually beating up on Cox in the
booking office when Harriett grabbed and
held him while Cox took the officers gun
away from him and shot him to death.
County Attorney Sherwood Brown, Jr.
apparently thought it wasn't true and that he
had a solid case against Cox because he
was asking for the death penalty. He was
teamed up with Assistant County Attorney
Jack Beckhusen and they were going for all
the marbles. Cox was being defended by
local lawyers L.M. Kenyon and Fred W.
Drummond who had vowed to do everything
they could to get Cox acquitted.
Everyone, included the Judge, J.G.
Howard, was expecting "standing room
only" since a special venire of prospective
jurors had been summoned for the trial and
nearly 80 witnesses subpoenaed.
Twenty-eight witnesses had been summoned by the prosecution and more than
Part 2
The Trial
50 by the defense, among them Police
Commissioner Walter Johnston and former
Commissioner O.E. Casey, Police Chief
Conway Shannon, a slew of other police officers and several newspaper reporters. It
was the most witnesses ever subpoenaed in
a Galveston murder trial.
Detective Willie Burns, who would later
become Police Chief, was brought home
from training in the FBI National Academy in
Quantico, Virginia as a witness for the state.
Several of the witnesses to the actual
killing had reportedly made conflicting statements about the incident, causing much
speculation. Since that time there had been
a lot of speculation focusing on the expectation that some sensational testimony might
be brought out in the trial.
Cox's mother, Mrs. Buddie Havens, had
arrived in Galveston from Hot Springs,
Arkansas and was getting media attention.
She told reporters that she had left her
bedridden husband in Arkansas to be with
her son during his trial. She and her 17-year
old daughter traveled to Galveston and were
staying with Cox's brother Reese, who also
lived in Galveston and worked at Todd
Shipyard. She related how Floyd had been
drafted into the Army at an early age but
had only spent 10 months before getting out
on a hardship discharge. Her husband, his
stepfather, was unable to work and his assistance was needed. The mother professed
her faith in her son's innocence and
declared that justice would be done that that
he would be set free.
Elrod had been shot on March 11th;
allegedly killed with his own .45 caliber auto-
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matic during a scuffle in the police station
booking office.
One of the first witnesses called to testify
when the trial began the next morning, was
police officer R.W. Harper. The officer testi-
Detective John W. Reifel told Officer
Harper not to talk with reporters about
the shooting in the booking office.
(archive photo)
fied that he and his partner, officer C.A.
Nelson, were dispatched to the Hub Tavern
on that Thursday night in March. When they
arrived, Cox and his companion, Harriett
Hanson, were in the custody of other officers, including Bennie Elrod. Harper told
the jury that at sometime during their time
at the tavern, he heard one of the other officers tell Elrod to "be quiet and get in the
car." He said that Elrod got into one of the
patrol cars and Cox and Hanson were
placed in another one.
After the officers arrived at the station,
Elrod told them that Cox had kicked him in
the groin during the melee at the bar, said
Harper. He continued to testify that he was
in the searching room with Cox and the girl
when Elrod came in muttering expletives
and claiming that he was going to get even
with Cox. He said that as Cox was standing
with his hands on the counter, Elrod took his
coat off, threw it aside, and started beating
on Cox. Then he continued: "Harriett started screaming and beating on Elrod's back,
and screamed, 'Leave him alone. Don't kill
him!'
"There were several officers around and
they just stood and listened. It looked to me
like Elrod's hand went toward his gun. I
grabbed Harriett by the hair and jerked her
back. When I looked up I saw the gun, but I
don't know who pulled it. The gun was in
Cox's hand and I knocked Elrod aside.
"I told Elrod to get out and let me handle
everything. I was trying to keep them apart
when I saw the gun blaze I grabbed Cox'
arm. Then I heard Elrod groan threetimes.
"I didn't know at once who was hit, then I
saw Elrod grab himself, and he staggered
back.
"I jerked Cox' arm as I heard a second
shot go off. The second shot came almost
immediately after the first. I tried to jam the
gun with my hand. Then I saw Nelson come
in. Nelson fired a shot that went between
my legs and Cox dropped the gun.
"Cox started halfway crying that he wanted to talk to the detectives, but I told him he
wasn't going to talk to anyone".
During the remainder of his testimony, the
officer told the jury that since Elrod's death
he had been threatened, shot at, and told by
other officers to keep his mouth shut. He
said that during the investigation that followed the shooting, the investigating officers
had taken written statements from everyone
continued on page 26 (Cop Shop)
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continued from page 1 (Cold Murder Case)
"They gave me their blessing and I left,"
she said.
Tejeda had no idea it was the last time she
would hear her parents' voices or see their
faces alive.
By that time, caring for her parents took
around 20 hours a day, but Tejeda said she
never minded all the work.
"You can never repay your parents," she
said. "She was the kind of mother who
would only eat our leftovers if there wasn't
enough food for everybody."
Raising such a large family, Tejeda said
her mother rarely had more to eat than leftovers until they were all grown. For that reason and many more, Tejeda said she gladly
fed and cared for her parents, only leaving
them for short periods of time.
The day they died was an exception, she
said. On that day, Tejeda was gone longer
than usual.
"I stayed at the restaurant to eat, everybody there was saying I needed to eat something, so I ate," she said. "I usually didn't
eat because I had to rush all through the
day to finish everything I had to do."
Tejeda's nephew had asked her to pick up
some papers for him in New Caney, which
was also not part of her usual routine.
"I wasn't going to stop that day, and then
for some reason I just jerked the wheel and
exited - I thought I might as well go," she
said.
Tejeda is now haunted by the extra time
she was gone that day and wonders if
returning sooner might have made a difference.
A little after noon, she was back at her
parents' house.
"I noticed something was strange,
because my dad always got the mail by
noon and left the door open on the mailbox,
but it was closed," Tejeda said. "Dad always
checked it because he thought somebody
was going to send him some money."
She took lunch from her truck and got her
house key ready to unlock the front door,
but found she did not need it.
"I had the key to open it, but when I
moved it, you could tell it was open, so I just
pushed the door and it opened," Tejeda
said.
She placed the food on a table then
noticed something else.
Since the Rodriguez' health began to fail,
they both slept in the large front room of the
house on single beds, which is where Tejeda
saw her mother.
"I had combed her hair with a braid, but
her hair was really fluffy and messed up,"
she said. "She was turned away and I didn't
know if she was sleeping."
Tejeda called out to her mother, saying
"Mom, what did you do to your hair?"
There was no answer.
"I walked slowly toward the bathroom and
said, Dad, what did Mom do to her hair, and
I was kind of laughing, because she would
do silly stuff," Tejeda said.
There was no answer from her father
either.
A large kitchen was parallel to the living
area and on the other side of it was a small
hallway with a bathroom, where Tejeda
assumed her father was when she arrived.
Word spread quickly that two elderly
Cleveland residents were murdered and
a crowd of family, friends and the curious gathered outside the yellow police
tape. At one point, the group joined
hands and prayed. (Jamie Nash photo)
When he failed to answer her, Tejeda
stepped into the kitchen, and saw her
father.
"I walked toward the bathroom and I saw
his feet were up, and he was laying there,
and his head was tilted up against the door
where the hinges are," she said. "There was
blood running, and it looked like he was
looking at me."
Initially, she thought her father might have
slipped and fallen. She called out to him,
but he still did not answer.
"Then I saw bruises all over him," she
said.
With her eyes adjusting from being outside and the house dimly lit, it took a
moment to clearly see his injuries, she said.
"I told him Oh, my God! Then I thought
what if somebody came in and they got
Mom too," Tejeda said.
Still thinking her father was only injured,
she began to yell, "Dad, who did this to you?
Tell me?"
There was no answer and no movement.
"At that moment when I did that, I turned
and I don't know what it was, I felt like
somebody picked me up and brought me to
my mom's side," she said. "It felt like it was
a dream."
Tejeda then saw the reason her mother
never responded.
"I went to my mom's face and she was
completely black," she said. "My mom was
real white and she was black. She was pitch
black and her dentures were popping out."
"I guess when they had hit her, when they
beat her, they popped her dentures out,"
she said.
Tejeda began to scream and called 911.
"The operator asked me to check if they're
breathing, and I tried to get near my mom,
but I couldn't look at her - it was so horrible," she said. "I ran outside."
Despite the grisly image Tejeda cannot
erase from her memory, she found comfort
in knowing her 95 pound mother did not go
continued on page 20 (Cold Murder Case)
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413 24th Street – Galveston
MAGNOLIA - Lisa Minchew was sentenced to five years deferred adjudication for sexual assault of a child. She
pled guilty to having sex with a male
teenage student in the Magnolia
School District where she was a
teacher. She must now register as a
sex offender. (thepolicenews.net)
While taking a routine vandalism
report at an elementary school, I
was interrupted by a little girl about
6 years old. Looking up and down at
my uniform, she asked, "Are you a
cop?"
"Yes," I answered and continued
writing the report.
"My mother said if I ever needed
LIVINGSTON - This Conroe father was
sentenced to 18 months in a state jail
facility for failing to pay thousands of
dollars in court-ordered child support
for the care of a 17-year-old son, who
lives with his mother in Houston.
Robert Porteous, 43, was found guilty
of criminal nonsupport by 258th
Judicial District Judge Elizabeth
Coker, who also ordered restitution of
$111,080.
(thepolicenews.net)
help I should ask the police. Is that
right?"
"Yes, that's right," I told her.
"Well, then," she said as she
extended her foot toward me,
"would you please tie my shoe?"
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continued from page 8 (Attic)
that had been in the house on their previous visit. But in the master bedroom, on
the carpet directly under the hideaway
door to the attic, the officers noticed
traces of ceiling insulation.
No doubt about it. Suddenly it all added
up and the officers knew it. The delaying
tactics at the door by Erin Jack, Gary
nowhere to be found in the house after
they saw him go it, the insulation on the
floor right below the attic pull down door.
Adrian Gary was in the attic. Does he have
the missing shotgun with him in the attic?
It wouldn't be a wise choice for one to go
sticking his head in the attic the officers
agreed. They called out Houston SWAT.
There was about a two hour wait for
Houston SWAT, but it was worth it. It was
probably 120 degrees in the attic so if
Gary was in there he would probably be
anxious to surrender pretty soon. Little or
no air circulation, the glass fibers from the
insulation, the attic was not a desirable
place to be.
When SWAT arrived at the house on
Fuqua they wasted no time. Surrender
demands were made so if Gary were in the
attic, he could clearly hear them. He didn't come down. There was no begging or
pleading on the part of SWAT. They didn't
dilly dally around or spend a lot of time
planning a strategy. The pull down door to
the attic was opened slightly and one
round from a tear gas gun was lobbed into
the attic. Coughing and sputtering, skin
and eyes burning, the two year chase with
Adrian Dewayne Gary was over. When he
emerged from the attic he was covered
with insulation fibers. He had burrowed
himself under the insulation in case the
pursuing officers looked in the attic with
their flashlights.
Since Gary was arrested inside the
Houston city limits, and there was an outstanding warrant for him in that jurisdiction, the Houston officers took custody of
him and took him to their city jail. Leacroy
and McCammon would have much rather
had the honor of locking him up in Texas
City, but it was protocol. Eventually Gary
will be brought back to Galveston County
Fresh from the attic
to face the many charges against him.
Erin Jacks was also arrested by the
Houston officers. She was charged with
possession of that bag of marijuana discovered in the house and for Harboring a
Fugitive.
Here is an ironic twist to this story. One
of the outstanding felony warrants for Gary
was for Kidnapping. He allegedly kidnapped his girlfriend earlier this year. A
warrant for his arrest was issued and a
bond of $80,000 was set. The girlfriend
that filed the charges against him was Erin
Ashley Jack, the woman arrested for harboring him during the raid on Fuqua.
The arrest of Adrian Dewayne Gary
cleared five felony warrants in Galveston
County, and two felony warrants in
Chambers County. The Houston officers
charged him with being in possession of
the .45 pistol they found in the house. He
is an already convicted felon so he cannot
legally have a firearm, even in his home.
His bonds total over $400,000. It's a
good bet that he won't be back in the free
world for a long, long time.
Leacroy and McCammon? They are
back chasing more fugitives of which there
are plenty. Crooks are job security for
cops. Cops are career ender's for crooks.
And so it goes. For these two cops, it was
another day at the office.
Crystal Beach Rape & Murder
(281) 534-6689
Bridgett Gearen
CRYSTAL BEACH – The investigation is continuing into the July rape and murder of 28year old Bridgett Gearen of Orange, Texas.
Gearen's body was discovered near the
waters edge on the beach at Crystal Beach
by weekend campers. She had been raped,
and strangled.
A $15,000 reward is being offered by
local merchants for information leading to
the arrest and grand jury indictment of the
person or persons responsible for this
homicide.
Persons with information are urged to
contact the Galveston County Sheriff's
Office, (409) 766-2222 or toll free, 866248-8477.
Tips may also be called to Galveston
Crime Stoppers. You will not be required to
give your identification when contacting
Crime Stoppers. Call 409-762-TIPS (8477)
FAIRWAY
CHIROPRACTIC
FREE
EXAM
MONTGOMERY COUNTY –
Investigators say 42-year old William
P. Norris, Jr. of New Caney, (pictured)
kicked open the door to his brothers
home and opened fire. Stephen
Norris, 31, fell dead, ending a long
running dispute between the two. The
elder Norris is charged with murder.
(thepolicenews.net)
A bad day
A police officer in a small town stopped a
motorist who was speeding down Main Street.
"But officer," the man began, "I can
explain."
"Just be quiet," snapped the officer.
"I'm going to let you cool your heels in jail
until the chief gets back."
"But, officer, I just wanted to say,..."
"And I said to keep quiet! You're going to jail!"
A few hours later the officer looked in
on his prisoner and said, "Lucky for you
that the chief's at his daughter's wedding. He'll be in a good mood when he gets
back."
"Don't count on it," answered the fellow
in the cell. "I'm the groom."
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17
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Scheduled Execution – September 20, 2007
Clifford Allan Kimmel
White Male, Born July 18, 1975
Native of Bexar County, Texas
Occupation: Laborer
Education Level: 8th Grade
LICENSED • BONDED • INSURED
On May 18, 1999, in San Antonio, Texas,
Kimmel and 24-year old Derek Murphy forced
their way into a San Antonio apartment with
intentions of burglarizing it for money and
property with which to support their drug
habits. Three days later the bodies of Rachel
White and Susan Halverstadt, both topless
dancers, and Brett Roe, were discovered. All
three had multiple stab wounds.
A psychiatrist, testifying for the defense,
said Kimmel's participation in the murders
was fueled by his addiction to methamphetamine, also know as speed.
Kimmel started heavy drug use at the age
of 13 or 14.
After his arrest, Kimmel confessed to
police, saying he and Murphy injected the
three victims with the household cleaner
Tilex in an effort to drug them and rob them.
Then Murphy stabbed them to death.
The jury, in the penalty phase of Kummels
trial, deliberated about one hour before
deciding on the death penalty.
Murphy later was sentenced to life for his
participation in the murders.
Tony Roach, White Male
Born: November 9, 1976
Native of: Greenville, S.C.
Occupation: Laborer
Education: 10th Grade
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In June 1998 firefighters found the body of
Ronnie "Kitten" Hewitt inside her burning
apartment in Amarillo, Texas. Though the
fire had burned her body, it was determined
that she died from asphyxiation. A belt was
tightened around her neck and she had been
sexually assaulted. Her house was then set
afire using aerosol hair spray as the igniter.
Later that month, police in Oklahoma
questioned Roach about an unrelated crime,
Joseph Roland Lave
Black Male, Born October 17, 1964
Native of Harris County, Texas
Occupation: Truck driver
Education Level: 14 years
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and during questioning Roach confessed to
killing a woman named Kitten in Amarillo.
He signed a written confession in which he
stated that he entered Hewitt's apartment
through a window, confronted her, and
choked her with his arm and then with a belt
until she died.
He said he then raped her vaginally and
anally and took her money, a knife, a beer,
and some rings. Finally, he described using
hair spray to set the apartment on fire.
A knife identified as Kitten's and two of her
rings were retrieved from pawn shops in
Amarillo and Guymon, Oklahoma, along with
pawn slips signed by Roach.
Semen was present in vaginal and anal
swabs. Roach was excluded as the contributor of the vaginal swab, but the DNA profile
of the contributor of the semen found in the
anal swab matched his DNA in ten different
areas; such a profile would occur in only one
in six billion Caucasians, Blacks, or
Hispanics.
A jury convicted Roach of Capital Murder,
and he was sentenced to death.
On the day before Thanksgiving, 1992,
Joseph Roland Lave, James Langston and
Timothy Bates, conspired to rob a suburban Dallas sporting goods store. During
the robbery, they brutally killed two of the
store employees, Frederick Banzhaf and
Justin Marquart. A third employee at
Herman's Sporting Goods, Angela, was
also attacked but managed to survive, call
911 and identify Langston as one of the
attackers.
All three victims were beaten with a
hammer and their throats were slit. As a
continued on next page (Lave)
continued from previous page (Lave)
result of Angela's identification, the police
sought to apprehend Langston. During
the attempted arrest, Langston tried to
run over the police officers and they
responded by shooting him to death.
Inside Langston's shoe, the police found a
card with Bates' name and phone number.
Using that information, the police arrested Bates, who identified Lave as the third
robber. Subsequently, the police executed
a search warrant on Lave's apartment and
automobile and seized merchandise from
the sporting goods store. Authorities said
$2,950 in cash, 21 rifles and shotguns
and athletic clothing were taken.
Lave surrendered to police two days
later after he rented a Cadillac and drove
to New Orleans, where he was told by a
friend that he was a suspect in the
Richardson slayings.
Lave was tried for the murder of
Marquart. A police sergeant testified that
Bates told him that on the night of the
crime, he and Langston went to the sporting goods store and met with Lave.
Langston gave Lave a gun and the two of
them went to the front and broke in. Bates
waited in the back until his accomplices
allowed him to enter. Bates told him that
while waiting in the hallway he saw Lave in
a room with Langston and that Langston
was striking one of the victims with a hammer. When Bates saw this, he went outside to the back of the store and waited for
his accomplices. Eventually, Lave, with
Langston, emerged from the back carrying
the knife and drove off with the money.
Lave did not testify.
The jury convicted Lave for the murder
of Marquart, under Texas' law of the parties, and sentenced him to death.
Michael Wayne Richards
Black Male, Born August 24, 1959
Native of Waller County, Texas
Occupation: Mechanic
Richards was convicted in the August
1986 rape and murder of 53-year old
Marguerite Lucille Dixon, a registered
nurse living in Hockley, Texas.
Having been paroled from prison just
two months earlier, Richards approached
Dixon's son outside her home and asked if
a van parked in the driveway was for sale.
When told it was not, Richards left but
returned when he saw Dixon's son and
daughter leave.
He forced the victim into a bedroom,
raped her and then shot her in the head
with a .25 caliber pistol.
After the killing, Richards stole two televisions from the home and the van from
the driveway. He later traded the murder
weapon to a friend for cocaine.
Police found Richards' fingerprints on a
sliding glass door to Dixon's home.
He later confessed to the murder but
claimed the gun discharged accidentally.
Richards was previously sent to prison in
March, 1978 from Harris County for six
years for burglary of a home with intent to
commit theft and was paroled in May,
1981.
He was sent back to prison in January,
1985, again from Harris County, for five
years for auto theft, theft and forgery. He
was released under mandatory supervision in June, 1986, two months before he
murdered Dixon.
seen the couple for several days and
had observed the son acting strangely
and driving his parents' car, which
they did not allow him to do.
Turner was arrested at his home on
outstanding warrants for traffic violations. He had marijuana on his person
when arrested.
Police found the parents' bodies in
the garage and found enough evidence
to allow them to charge the son with
their murders.
At his trial, Turner testified that he
shot his father in self defense. This
self-defense theory contradicted
Turner's pretrial statements in news-
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paper and television interviews that he
had nothing to do with the murders.
He offered no explanation for killing
his mother, saying he could not recall.
He testified that he felt nothing when
he killed his parents.
Turner has a long history of violence
and other inappropriate behavior. He
claimed that years of parental abuse
largely explains his violent behavior.
Neighbors of the couple believed that
Turner killed his parents because they
were being strict with him after he was
convicted of a robbery charge and
received three years' probation.
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Carlton Akee Turner, Jr.
Black Male, Born July 4, 1979
Native of Salt Lake City, Utah
Occupation: Laborer
Carlton Akee Turner, Jr. was 19-years
old when he killed his adoptive parents
in their suburban Dallas home and put
their bodies in the garage. Both
Carlton A. Turner, Sr., 43, and Tonya
Turner, 40, were shot several times in
the head and dragged through the
house where they were dumped in the
garage.
After the murders, Turner went shopping with his parents' cash and credit
cards, buying new clothes and jewelry
and forging a check on their personal
checking account.
He continued to live in the family
home for three days while his parent's
decomposed in the garage in the hot
Texas summer.
The family had lived in the neighborhood for less than a year, but neighbors realized something was wrong
and called police to say they had not
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continued from page 14 (Cold Murder Case)
without fight.
"The man from the funeral home told us
my mom had defensive wounds," she said.
"They said she must have fought back."
After she called 911, Tejeda called her
sister Norma Rodriguez in Porter, but was
unable to explain what happened. Norma
Rodriguez said she understood only
enough to know she needed to get to
Cleveland quickly, and thought one of her
parents had a heart attack. When the line
disconnected, Norma Rodriguez ran to her
vehicle and sped northward, as Tejeda
tried to grasp what happened.
"I was pulling my hair. I was screaming,"
Tejeda said. "I still thought they were hurt
bad and I was running back and forth and
I could only say oh my God, oh my God."
Then, she said, it crossed her mind they
might be dead and she began to think her
siblings might hold her responsible.
"I was supposed to be watching them,"
Tejeda said. "In my heart I felt that I let
everybody down."
According to Tejeda's sister, Norma
Rodriguez, the family is grateful for her sister's tireless efforts.
Cleveland Police Detectives Tom Yates
and Harry Kelley launched the investigation, assisted not only by area law enforcement, but also by the Texas Rangers and
the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The family said goodbye to their parents
with a double funeral at Houston's
Veteran's Memorial Cemetery. Antonio
Rodriguez, the proud Veteran, was buried
in a coffin decorated with patriotic scenes
depicting an American flag waving across
blue skies.
The coffin was also draped with the traditional cloth flag, which was presented to
Tejeda by agreement of her siblings.
Luz Rodriguez' coffin also represented
what was important to her, aside from her
large family, which was her deep and abiding faith in God. The sides had scenes
depicting the Lord's Supper and an enormous live floral spray covered the top of
the casket.
As in life, Maria and Antonio Rodriquez
were together, even in death.
The family was in disbelief that they were
gathered a second time in less than one
year because their family was touched by
violent crime.
Norma Rodriguez' son, Bernie Banos,
was discovered in a shallow grave in a
rural subdivision outside of Cleveland in
the fall of 2004, less than a year earlier.
However, Banos' murder was quickly
solved and two men previously considered
to be Banos' friends were charged with the
crime. There was speculation among citizens regarding a possible connection
between Banos' death and the murder of
his grandparents, but if police made that
connection, it was never public.
Tejeda said she knew there were people
who believed she killed her parents and
said it had taught her never to judge or
jump to conclusions. Still, she said she
understood why it might look that way.
For a while, the family hung a banner on
the Rodriguez' house, bearing photos of
both victims and the phone number for
Liberty County Crime Busters, which is
now Crime Stoppers.
Eventually, the grief stricken family rented a billboard beside US Hwy 59, with the
same images and information. They were
certain if common decency would not prevail, greed would. The family has raised
$11,000 in reward money, which was widely publicized over the last two-and-a-half
years.
Detective Jim Cooper, who took the case
over from Detective Yates later that year, is
still the lead investigator. Cooper said the
promise of reward money has brought out
something less than the best in people.
"We've had people come forward with
information, but it's third party or they say
people bragged about doing it but the
information doesn't fit the crime scene,"
Cooper said. "People are using it to try and
build a street rep, or they're trying to claim
the reward money, but none of the stories
match the evidence."
Cooper said the case was both open and
active. He still follows up on any information received and hears from the
Rodriguez family on a regular basis, he
said.
Cooper believes one day someone will
come forward with information that matches the evidence and was not released
through the media and he will finally be
able to close the case.
Marty Rodriguez now lives in his parents'
Cleveland home, and his father's car
remains parked in front.
Some of the siblings have joined the
activist group Texans for Equal Justice,
which now meets at La Casita. Despite the
steps that have been taken since their parents' deaths, Carolina Tejeda and Norma
Rodriguez say the family has not moved
forward and cannot move forward as long
as the crime remains unsolved.
Anyone with information is asked to contact: Crime Stoppers at (281)592-0800.
The Cleveland Police Department can be
contacted at (281)592-2621.
Jamie Nash is a special correspondent
and feature writer for The Police News
residing in Montgomery County, Texas.
She may be e-mailed at jamienash@thepolicenews.net
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11
continued from page 11 (Ex-Con)
Chauviere house to ask Christie to baby sit
her children, told Etheridge's jury that she
knocked on the door of the home and heard
someone cry, "Please help me."
She was unable to open the front door so
she went home and got her husband, Stan.
The back door was also locked, she said, but
they could see that a lamp had been
knocked over.
At her husband's request, Mrs. McCreight
went home to get his gun, and when she
returned the two of them went into the
garage, where they found an open door. Stan
McCreight went inside, and found the
Chauvieres.
Richwood police officer John Rhyne testified that when he arrived, the area where the
Chauvieres were lying was "a blood bath."
In addition to the toppled lamp, he found a
pair of women's panties, and saw that
Christie was wearing nothing below the
waist. Her hands were bound with telephone
cord, and she was gagged.
Aurielo Espinola, a pathologist for the
Harris County Medical Examiner's Office,
said he examined Christie's body. He testified that the girl had a non-fatal stab
wound through the right side of her nose
and five stab wounds in her body, as well
as defensive stab wounds, scratches and
abrasions on her arms. He said the
weapon appeared to be a knife about three
inches in length.
Christie also had lacerations and bruises
in her vaginal area, he said, indicating that
she had been sexually assaulted with a
large object such as a bottle or broom handle while she was still alive.
Joe Juarez Jr., who lived across the street
from the attack scene, testified that he saw
the Chauvieres' car back out of their driveway. The driver, who appeared to have
blonde hair, hesitated before driving on, he
said.
Gail Chauviere told the jury she could
recall only bits and pieces of the attack, but
remembered pleading for help as Etheridge
ripped her open, and later seeing a knife
held at her daughter's throat.
Gail, whose husband died only seven
months before, said she, her 20-year-old son
Charles, and her daughter, Christie lived in
the residence in Tamarind Woods. Charles than an hour before finding Etheridge guilty
was not at home at the time of the attack.
of capital murder in Christie's death and the
When she returned home shortly before 6 robbery of her mother.
p.m., Gail said, she noticed a dark car in her
A witness in the punishment phase of the
driveway, then saw the dog she had given trial, Geoffrey Mack, told jurors Etheridge
Etheridge.
had attacked him while both were prisoners
Etheridge came out of the house and told in the Clemens Unit of TDC. Mack said he
her to come on in, and she asked if he was was asleep when Etheridge stabbed him
returning the dog to her. He told her to "Get repeatedly.
in the house now." Gail said she went inside,
Payton Taylor testified he was working
put her work money bag on a chair, and he undercover with investigators when he
ordered her to come to where he was stand- bought cocaine from Etheridge. When they
ing in the den.
were both in the Brazoria County Jail, they
She saw her daughter sitting on the arm of had gotten into a fight, Taylor said.
the love seat, and
After deliberating
when Christie tried to
less than two hours
say
something,
the jurors agreed that
Etheridge ordered her
Etheridge
should
to shut up.
receive the death
Christie appeared to
penalty.
be upset, Gail said,
"I've handled you
and when Etheridge
since you were a kid
asked for money, she
and you've really gradtold him to take the
uated to the big
money bag, which
league," Judge Gayle
contained
about
told Etheridge after
$200.
sentencing him. "Your
"I said, 'Take it ...I
attorney, Jim Coate,
won't tell anybody …
said it would not
Just don't harm
accomplish anything
Christie,'" she testiby giving you the
fied.
Gary Wayne Etheridge in 1989 prison death penalty … but
Gail said she saw
we're going to clean
mug shot
Etheridge struggling
up a piece of garbage
with her daughter, but did not actually see … You are going to die, young man, sooner
him stab her. After he began stabbing Gail, or later, by lethal injection."
she said, there was "an explosive sound in
As Etheridge was led from the courtroom,
my head and that's when I blacked out."
smirking and muttering, "We all got to die
Houston Police officer Paul Day, who sometime," the approximately 100 spectapicked up Etheridge when he was hitchhiking tors in the courtroom applauded.
and took him to the Brazoria County Sheriff's
"I assure you, justice has been done in this
Office, said Etheridge admitted to him that case," Judge Gayle told the jurors.
he had killed Christie Chauviere. Etheridge
Reprieves postponing Etheridge's schedsaid he was sorry, and that he was returning uled execution were granted in 2000 and in
to turn himself in, Day testified.
June of 2002. He had been on death row for
Dr. James H. "Red" Duke, treated Gail almost 12 years when he was executed by
Chauviere at Hermann Hospital, and testi- lethal injection on Aug. 20, 2002.
fied that she had suffered "multiple penetratGail Chauvier, who had survived to testify
ing wounds in her neck, face, chest, upper against her daughter's killer, died several
abdomen and upper extremities."
years before Etheridge, however, actually
Once the testimony, jury arguments and another of his victims.
charges were all completed, the jury of four
She died of liver disease from the numerwomen and eight men deliberated for less ous blood transfusions she received as a
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result of her own injuries in the attack.
Marie Beth Jones is a published author
and freelance writer based in Angleton
Texas. She is Chairwoman of the Brazoria
County Historical Commission and regular
contributor to The Police News.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY - 39-year old
Mardena Slade went out for a walk
near her Duncanville, Texas home on
July 19th. Five days later her body was
discovered on the roadside near the
Northcrest Ranch subdivison in
Montgomery County. Investigators
want to know how she wound up dead
over 200 miles from home, who killed
her and how. Anyone with information
should contact DPS at (936) 442-2831
or Crime Stoppers at (800) 392-STOP.
Rich People and Crime
Ever since the OJ Simpson trial I’m
convinced that in this country rich
people literally get away with murder.
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SEX OFFENDERS — MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Convicted Sex Offenders are required by Texas law to
register with law enforcement in the city in which they reside.
These Sex Offenders are not wanted by the law…
they are published for Community Awareness in cooperation with local law enforcement agencies.
If you have information that any of these offenders are residing at an address other than the one shown, please contact
Montgomery County Sheriffs Office –(936) 538-3222
Coffee & Donuts
BENNETT, CLAYTON REUSS
White Male, Born Jan. 23, 1975
10949 Blackland, Willis, Tx
Sexual Assault
Victim: Female Age 23
Risk Level: HIGH
Montgomery County Sheriff
DIXSON, DOUGLAS CHOTE JR
White Male, Born Dec. 26, 1965
512 Springwood Dr., Conroe, Tx
Sexual Assault
Risk Level: HIGH
FREDERICK, MARK
While Male, Born Sept 24, 1986
920 IH-45 S, Apt 112, Conroe, Tx
Indecency w/a Child, Sexual Contact
Risk Level: HIGH
GAINES, KENNETH RAY
White Male, Born Dec. 20, 1976 or
1979
9825 Flamingo Ln., Conroe, Tx
Aggravated Sexual Asslt, Child (Rape)
Risk Level: HIGH
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GOODE, DAVID STEPHEN
Aliases: Dewey Ivy & Floyd Wilson
White Male, Born (Various dates in 1948-49)
16029 Malibu West, Willis, Tx
Sexual Assault
Risk Level: HIGH
HANKS, CHARLES GREGORY
Black Male, Born Sept. 1, 1964
9529 Simmons, Conroe, Tx
Aggravated Sexual Asslt (Rape) (2
counts)
Victims: Females Ages 24 & 25
Risk Level: HIGH
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HARDY, TRAMAIN MARCEL
Black Male, Born Sept. 18, 1977
134 Amanda, Conroe, Tx
Aggravated Sexual Assault Child
Risk Level: HIGH
HILL, SHANE WILLIAM
Nickname: Little Gangster & Miklo
White Male, Born June 25, 1980
16011 E. Williams Rd., Conroe, Tx
Sexual Assault Child (2 counts)
Risk Level: High
HATCHETT, JAMAL JOHNTA
Black Male, Born Nov. 9, 1986
11445 Underwood, Willis, Tx
Aggravated Sexual Asslt, Child (Rape)
(2 counts)
Risk Level: HIGH
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WIGGINS, EARL EUGENE
White Male, Born Oct. 16, 1934
12849 Lake Conroe Hills, Willis, Tx
Aggravated Sexual Asslt Child (Rape)
Risk Level: HIGH
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SEX OFFENDERS — BRAZORIA COUNTY
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If you have information that any of these offenders are residing at an address other than the one shown, please contact the listed police agency.
Offering
POLICE FAMILY
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ALMENDAREZ, ELI MATTHEW
Hispanic Male, Born June 11, 1980
439 CR-296, Alvin, Tx
Sexual Assault of a Child (4 counts)
Risk Level: MODERATE
Brazoria County Sheriff
HUDGEONS, GREGORY GENE
2044 CR 342 Brazoria, Tx.
Victim Female Age 15
Risk level:HIGH
MUELLER, DERRIN KEITH
Carnal Knowledge of a Juvenile
Military OffenseVictim: Female Age 15
Risk Level: NOT AVAILABLE
ORTIZ, ILAN
Hispanice Male, Born Feb. 14, 1992
17220 FAA Rd, Alvin, Tx
Galveston County Sheriff
PEARSON, AUBREY CALVIN HOOPER
Black Male, Born June 26,1968
3900 CR 48 # 207 SW Rosharon, Tx
Indecency w/a Child, Sexual Exposure (2 counts)
PENA,CANDELARIO JR
Hispanic Male, Born: July 2, 1952
1301 S. Hood, Apt 7, Alvin, Tx
Alvin Police Dept.
713-850-0555
1-877-627-7458
Fax: 281-412-3496
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PERRY, RANDALL JAY JR.
White Male, Born: March 1, 1987
510 N. Shirley, Apt 1, Alvin, Tx
Aggravated Sexual Assault
Alvin Police Dept.
REYES, ALFONZO
Hispanic Male, Born: Nov. 4, 1953
209 Ave. F. Alvin, Tx
Alvin Police Dept.
REINHART, ADAM ROBERT
White Male, Born: March 2, 1989
Indecency w/a Child, Sexual Contact (3
counts)
Victims: Males Ages 5 & 7, Female Age 9
RODRIGUEZ, EUGENIO
Also uses last name Quintanilla
Hispanic Male, Born: Sept. 9, 1951
Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child
Kidnapping with Intent to Sexual Assault
Sexual Assault of a Child
Victims: Males & Females Ages 9-10-11-17
Risk Level: HIGH
SEX OFFENDERS — GALVESTON COUNTY
POLICE NEWS UPDATES
www.ThePoliceNews.net
Fine Steaks
and Seafood
If you have information that any of these offenders are residing at an address other than the one shown, please contact the listed police agency.
ADAMS, TYRELL TREMAINE
Black Male Born Dec. 2, 1984
2808 Ave. B. Dickinson, Tx
Aggravated Sexual Asslt Child
Victim: Male Age 5
Risk Level: HIGH
CLARK, JOHN RICHARD
White Male Born Oct. 20, 1955
3206 Galveston Ave. Dickinson, Tx
counts)
Risk Level: HIGH
Dickinson Police Dept.
BROWN, CRAIG ANTHONY
Alias: Wolfman
Black Male Born Nov. 1, 1960
2508 Hill St. Apt. 104, Dickinson, Tx
Risk Level: HIGH
COOK, MICHAEL PAUL
White Male Born Aug. 24, 1962
1302 FM-646, Apt 3. Dickinson, Tx
Telephone:
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Fax: (409) 744-9623
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FLORES, JOSE BERNABE
Hispanic Male, Born Nov. 27, 1975
2411 Ave B, Dickinson, Tx
Risk Level: NOT AVAILABLE
HILL, DERIKE DEWAYNE
Black Male, Born April 27, 1971
2510 Ave. G, Dickinson, Tx
Burglary w/Intent to Commit Another
Felony
Dickinson Police Dept.
GARCIA, JAIME N.
Alias: Deathwish
Hispanic Male, Born Sept. 1, 1980
2890 Misty Bay Dr. Dickinson, Tx
Sexual Assault of a Child
Risk Level: HIGH
Dickinson Police Dept or
HOFFMAN, THOMAS WINFORD JR
White Male, Born July 3, 1951
2 Pecan Circle, Santa Fe, Tx
counts)
Victims Ages 6 & 7
Santa Fe Police Dept.
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White Male, Born Feb. 14, 1988
718 FM-646, Dickinson, Tx
Indecency w/a Child, Sexual Contac
tVictim: Male Age 8
Risk Level: HIGH
MITCHELL, CHARLES ALLEN
White Male, Born Nov. 3, 1951
3313 Ave. C. Dickinson, Tx
Possession and Promotion of
Child Pornography
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contimued from page 13 (Cop Shop)
involved except him. Later, he said
Commissioner Johnson took him to the fingerprint room where he personally took his
statement.
"I was scared, and I don't know what I
said. I thought I told about Elrod beating
Cox up, but they said that I didn't." Harper
also testified about some snide remarks
made to Cox by officers when they were
ordered to take him to the hospital for treatment of a head injury received during the
fight.
The prosecutor asked Harper if the testimony he had given was the truth. Harper
replied, "I can tell more. I told my wife the
truth that night. And I thought I had one
friend in the department. I told Officer
Tabor, "I'm not going to lie at the trial."
"Two weeks later I was forced to resign
from the police department. I'm talking to
clear my conscience, and I wouldn't mind
having a trial so I could prove my innocence.
I was accused of stealing a tire. They can't
prove that."I was given my choice by the
commissioner of resigning or being charged
with felony theft. The commissioner said he
had talked to the local civil service board
about the matter. I later learned that he had
not."
The defense lawyers declined to cross
examine Harper. A former police officer,
called to testify later that evening, said that
he was asked to resign from the force at the
same time Harper was. T.W. Finch told the
jury that "the tire episode was not too serious."
"Harper and I were walking around a car
belonging to a suspect in a reckless driving
case, looking for evidence. Harper opened
the trunk and remarked that a tire inside
was 'just my size.' Then Harper left with a
local news reporter. "As a joke I put the tire
in Harper's car. Then I found him and told
him the commissioner and chief were hunting him.
"I forgot the joke, but the next morning I
was summoned to the chief's office. I was
asked to submit my resignation. Then I told
the chief that it was a joke. "Desk Sergeant
James A. Kingsley, Jr. testified after Finch.
He told a different story. He said that Cox
hit Elrod in the eye.
"Then Harper was lying when he said that
Elrod started beating Cox?" asked lawyer
Kenyon. On further questioning by the
defense attorney, Kingsley's memory started
fading. "I can't remember," was his
response to several questions and brought
giggles and hushed laughter from the jury
box.
The first day of testimony extended late
into the evening and continued the next day,
Tuesday, with the prosecution presenting
witnesses to try to bolster it's case against
Cox and heal the wound inflicted by the testimony of Officer Harper.
On Wednesday, the defense began presenting it's case. Cox's lawyers had agreed
that they would put the accused killer on the
stand to testify in his own behalf. But before
he was called to the stand, the jury had
heard from two police officers, two news
reporters, Cox's mother, and several character witnesses.
'Didn't Want to Die' Declares Floyd Cox On
Trial as Slayer. That was the headline the
day after accused cop killer Floyd Cox testified in his effort to avoid a date with the
Texas electric chair. Responding to questions from his defense attorney, Fox told the
court about the day of March 11th which
ended with the shooting in the police station. Cox said that he had visited several
bars that day and had arrived at the Hub
Tavern about 8 o'clock. "I was drunk," he
testified.
"Harriett, my girlfriend, had joined me at
the Hub Bar. We had three or four beers
together and started home. As we stepped
out the door, a man named Vickers was out
the door past me. "Vickers began shaking
his fist at the door, and using foul language.
I asked him to quiet down and he told me to
go to hell.
"I told him again to watch his language,
and I slapped him. Then he took his glasses
off and came toward me. He hit at me, but
only struck my arms. I knocked him down,
and he fell between a car and a truck. I
went over to pick him up, but he rolled
under the truck, then ran across the street.
A few minutes later I started on down the
sidewalk. A man came up to me and asked
what the trouble was. I did not know that he
was an officer. He was not in uniform and
did not show me a badge. "To avoid trouble,
I started explaining briefly what had happened. He told me to watch my language
Detective Willie Burns was called home
from the FBI Academy in Virginia to testify. He became the next police chief.
and hit me on the chin and kicked me in the
hip. I hit him once, and he pulled a gun.
"He still didn't say that he was an officer, but
I learned later that he was and that his name
was Elrod.
"When he pulled the gun, Harriett jumped
between us and said, 'Don't kill him. Kill me
instead.' Elrod hit her in the face with his
fist. I started around him, and he pulled the
hammer back on his gun. Then he said he
was an officer and that I was under arrest.
"I stopped fighting with him and Harriett and
I walked across the street. We understood
other officers had been called and we were
waiting for a patrol car.
"The police arrived, and we were told to
get into a car. I climbed in, and Harriett
started to follow me. Elrod hit her again. I
started out of the car, and Elrod put his pistol between my eyes and called me a (expletive deleted). He said he would blow my
head off. I got back into the car, and they
put Harriett in the front seat.
"After we had got into the booking room at
the station, Elrod rushed in and threw his coat
down. He rushed toward us. I don't' know
whether he was coming at me or Harriett, but
I pushed her aside and I backed into a corner
and put my hands over my face. "Elrod started hitting me. I don't know how many times
he hit me. I wasn't fighting back because I
wouldn't have had a chance. The place was
full of policemen.
Harriett finally grabbed his (Elrod's) arm
and said, 'Don't beat him to death.' Elrod hit
Harriett again and Harper grabbed her by
the hair and pulled her nearly to the door.
Two detectives took her on out. Harriett
screamed my name out in the hall. I
thought they were beating her, and I started
away from the corner toward her. Elrod hit
me over my left eye, blinding me temporarily. I hit him then and knocked him against
the wall.
"Then Elrod said, You (expletive deleted) I
told you I'd kill you, and he reached for his
gun. I ran at him and hit him about in the
waist with my shoulder. I grabbed his gun
and his hand with both my hands. The hammer was already back on the gun. I held the
gun with both hands and shut my eyes. I felt
the gun jump. I only heard one shot, but I
don't know how many times I fired. When I
opened my eyes, Harper was holding my
wrists. I saw the blaze of another gun and I
dropped the one I was holding. I knew I'd be
killed if he (Elrod) got his hands on the gun.
Not a single man in the place tried to help
me (during the fight)" Cox continued to testify saying that he had been taken to a hospital for blood and urine tests but he received
no treatment for the cut over his eye.
On questioning by the prosecutor, Cox said
that he had met Harriett Hanson the previous October at the Rialto Club and that they
began living together the next month. Asked
if he knew that Harriett was married to
another man, Cox answered, "Yes, that's
why we're not married."
After Cox left the stand, Police
Commissioner Walter L. Johnston was
called to testify. The jury was asked to leave
the room while he answered one question.
Attorney Kenyon asked whether Officer
Elrod had been suspended from the force
after hitting a man on the night of February
continued on next page (Cop Shop)
continued from previous page (Cop Shop)
10th. Commissioner, Johnson said that he
had, for seven days.
With the jury back in the room, Johnston
testified that he had been called to the
police station that night, shortly after Elrod
had been shot, and that he assumed command of the investigation. He told the court
that he ordered Cox to the hospital for
blood and urine tests but not for treatment
of head injuries and that he had observed
Cox during several hours of questioning.
The Police Chief, Conway Shannon, testified next and said that he was also called
to the station after the shooting and that he
was also involved in the investigation. The
Chief said that Cox was sent to a hospital to
see if he needed some stitches taken over
his eye. He said he knew nothing about a
blood test, and that he did not know
whether Cox received medical treatment.
A police reporter for the Daily News, Roy
Hanna, and assistant editor Bill Thompson,
testified that they were at the police station
during the investigation immediately following the shooting. Hanna testified that that
during the investigation Commissioner
Johnston told him, "Roy, this is off the
record, but if necessary we'll beat Cox to
death to get the kind of statement I want."
"I came into the station to get a story,"
said Hanna. "I saw Officer Harper, whom I
knew, and I asked him what the facts were.
Then Detective John Reifel grabbed
Harper's arm, pulled him away from me,
and told Harper to 'keep your (expletive
deleted) mouth shut.'"
On cross examination by the County
Attorney, Hanna testified that he had
received a written statement on the case
from Officer Harper.
"What did you do with it?" asked the
County Attorney. "I gave it to my managing editor." "You didn't take it to a grand
jury or to the county attorney/" queried
Assistant County Attorney Jack
Beckheus. "No, but the county attorney
was aware of the statement," he
answered, with the County Attorney sitting there listening to his testimony.
The reporter also offered two photographs, which were entered into evidence,
and said that he had personally taken them
on the night of the shooting. Assistant
Editor Thompson confirmed that he had
delivered a camera to Hanna at the station
that night and that he heard Commissioner
Johnston say that "we'll beat a confession
out of him if we have to."
Thompson said that just before that statement was made, Cox had been taken into
an interrogation room for questioning and
that about thirty minutes later he was
asked to witness the statement made by
Cox.
Cox' mother, of Hot Springs, Arkansas,
was called to testify as a character witness
for her son. "My boy lived at home until he
was drafted into the Army in June 1945,"
she said. "He was never in any trouble
when he was at home." Havens said that
her son gained a hardship discharge from
the Army to go home and help support her
and her school aged daughter because her
husband was ill and unable to work.
Mrs. Havens said that her son went to
work on a tugboat and sent money to her to
support the family. She said that he had
done that for the past two years and had
paid for his sister to go to school.
The final witness of the day, called by the
defense team, was Stanley E. Babb, a
courthouse reporter for the Galveston
News and Tribune.
"Have you, in the course of your duties as
a reporter, ever witnessed capital punishment administered by electrocution?"
asked attorney Kenyon. "I have seen three
electrocutions," he replied. At this point
the state objected to further testimony on
that subject and the judge sustained the
objection. There was no further discussion
of the death penalty.
Babb left the witness stand and the prosecutor began a short rebuttal. It was 8
o'clock in the evening when police department identification expert, C.F. Bock, Sr.
was called. He told the jury that he had
photographed Harriett Hanson in the police
station shortly after two o'clock on the
morning March 12th, several hours after
Elrod had been shot to death. He said he
saw no marks or bruises on her face.
Detective Willie Burns was then recalled
to testify. He said he saw no marks on
Harriett's face and that she was not kept at
the police station 'all night'.
Earlier the defense had called three Army
sergeants. They said they had been at the
Mayflower Bar during the afternoon of
March 11th and had seen officer Elrod
drink one or two beers. He was dressed in
civilian clothes. Henry McRae, a welder at
the Todd shipyard testified that Elrod was
"partially under the influence of intoxicating liquor." Another dock worker, Lester
Jackson, also testified that he had witness
the officer drinking in the bar.
The judge ordered the jury to leave the
courtroom to allow three defense witnesses
to testify. Each said that he had been beaten at the police station at various times.
The state objected to that testimony being
entered into the record and the judge
agreed.
Before testimony ended on Wednesday,
others who testified were Mrs. B.F. Elrod,
widow of the dead officer, police patrolman
W.E. Tabor and Rogers K. Sessions of Big
Spring, Texas. Sessions said that he was in
Galveston on March 11th and had gone to
the police station on business that evening
and was there when the shooting broke
out.
Court adjourned until Thursday, May
27th.
The Verdict: Coming in October.
Galveston lawyer new head of Crime Stoppers
GALVESTON – Directors of Galveston
Crime Stoppers have elected Galveston
attorney Robert V. Shattuck, Jr. to a oneyear term as president. He replaces longtime president Keith Ware who recently
resigned because of business and family
obligations. Ware was the first president
of Galveston Crime Stoppers when it
began nearly 20 years ago.
Shattuck announced that the Crime
Stopper group will begin having monthly
meeting at a designated time and place,
something it has not done for at least two
years. The organization which has consistently paid out more rewards to more people than any other Crime Stopper organi-
zation in the county, has suffered financially since being decertified two years ago
by the state Crime Stoppers organization.
Texas Crime Stoppers, as one of it's conditions for certification, requires that a
specific number of it's members attend
and pass certification classes. Galveston
Crime Stoppers has since been recertified
and continues to be the largest and most
active group in so far as paying rewards.
Shattuck also announced new programs
and strategies to recruit new volunteer
members into Crime Stoppers
Galveston Crime Stoppers tip line is 409763-TIPS (8477)
HARRIS COUNTY - Sheriff's investigators say 27-year old Brooke
Banhagle of Kingwood was driving
drunk when her car plowed into the
rear of a parked truck in Northwest
Harris County. The impact killed
her passenger, 24-year old Jeremy
Deluna. She was charged with
Intoxication Manslaughter and
faces up to 20 years in prison.
(thepolicenews.net)
Cap’n Bob’s PROPERTY WATCH
C a p ’ n B o b : A retired Sheriff’s Captain looking after
your property – whatever you need, whenever you ask.
The Difference is Flexibility
No monthly fee … You only pay for work requested!
• Documented property inspections
• Inspect for Vandalism and Trespassing
• Arrange Cleaning/Maintenance/Repair
• Check HVAC Operation/Service Scedules
• Verify Security Lighting/Alarm Systems
• Storm Preparations
• and WHATEVER ELSE YOU NEED!
(409) 737-9504
www.GalvestonPropertyWatch.com
Full Service Car & Truck Repair
Specializing in Diesel & Foreign Cars
• Complete Diagnostics
• Electrical System Repair
• Air Conditioning Repair
• Transmission Repair
• Brake Service & Repair
• Engine Repair & Rebuilds
• Emissions
Fleet Accounts Welcome
Hours:
Daily 8 - 6
200 Byrd Street, LaMarque
Rogues’
Gallery
MONTGOMERY COUNTY - Mark Cumpian, 24, and common-law wife Lynda
Brown were arrested when Sheriff's Department Narc's busted their trailer
house in the Shadow Bay subdivision. Cumpian tried to flush methamphetamine (ICE) down the toilet and flee out the back door. There were more Narc's
there, waiting and escorted the two to jail.
(thepolicenews.net)
GALVESTON - Police in Galveston say
this man, Ernest Gerald Dorsey, 48,
shot and killed 23-year old drinking
buddy Bonifacio Rodriquez, then threw
the murder weapon in the Gulf of
Mexico.
Speculation was that an argument
erupted between the two men that may
have centered around Dorsey's daughter.
Dorsey was indicted for murder. The
.22 caliber pistol was never recovered
from the gulf waters.
(the policenews.net)
ANSON, TX - A grand jury in Jones
County, indicted this convict for trying
to hire a hitman, from his prison cell,
to kill State District Judge David
Garner of Galveston. Garner sent him
there in the first place.Bryan Jay
Connelly, 34, a career criminal who
was there on a 30-month forgery conviction will likely be there much longer
now. Connelly, a self proclaimed member of the Ayran Circle white supremist
group, was no match for the Texas
Rangers.
(thepolicenews.net)
SANTA FE - When this ex-convict and registered sex offender moved into Santa
Fe, Texas near an elementary school he
was promptly told to move out by the
local police. A short time later they
caught him with a 16-year old boy in his
car. It turned out that he was not living
at the address where he had registered
with police.Now Daniel Morris Kelly, 28,
is facing two to twenty years back where
he came from, in prison.
(thepolicenews.net)
LEAGUE CITY — League City police
arrested 32-year-old Angela Denise
Jordy of League City after a passerby
found her 2-year-old son wandering
along FM 517 about 3:30 in the morning.The boy was walking along FM 517
wearing only a diaper when a woman
driving by spotted him and called
police.Jordy was charged with Child
Endangerment.
THE WOODLANDS - These two, not so intelligent drug dealers wound up in the
Montgomery County Jail after they sold drugs to undercover Narcs in the
Spring/Woodlands areas. Christopher Dolen, 26, and Chelsea Sulak, 21, had 621
prescriptions pills, $800 in cash and a Cadillac STS in their possesion when the
drug slueths busted them. Now they're in jail and the narcs have all their goodies,
including the Caddy.
(thepolicenews.net)
Christopher Garrison
Chauncey Watson
FREEPORT - These two characters, in jail for burglary, assaulted a Freeport Police
Department jailer during an escape attempt. Chauncey Watson saw it was hopeless and gave up but Christopher Garrison tried to scale a fence and make his
escape.
Poor planning ended his escape. It was shift change and the place was crawling
with cops.
In addition to the burglary charges, they now face charges of Escape and
Assaulting a Peace Officer.
(thepolicenews.net)

Police News Sept. 07

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