The body was taken to the Travis County Medical Examiner's Office in Austin to determine the cause of death. But Amen said Stacey Stites became less excited about her relationship with Fennell as time went on. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joseph . She says he drove her home, handed her a business card, and told her they would do it again the next day. Officials said the investigation began on May 6 when officials responded to a medical emergency on Upper Elgin Road. Driver dies in Bastrop, LA collision - Bastrop, LA EzeRoad In March 1997, investigators matched Reeds DNA to DNA recovered from Stites body. And the scientific facts and findings have proven that he is innocent. Reed has been charged with raping Chapman and Hamby, but denies the charges. City and county officials are calling this data extremely concerning. Many people in her life, from coworkers to acquaintances, were asked to provide a sample but no matches came up, including her fianc. He has been on the ground to cover active wildfires, civil unrest and mass shootings. She was lying face down. In 2017, Reeds defense attorneys tried to present forensic evidence from that 1996 murder that they said would prove his innocence in a hearing in Bastrop. Your email address will not be published. Dr. Daniel Wescott, director of Texas States Forensic Anthropology Center who is not involved in the case, said that genetic profiles of unidentified people are often entered into the FBIs Combined DNA Index System, or CODIS, which includes the genetic profiles of missing persons, convicted offenders and forensic samples collected from crime scenes. One is an insurance seller who was trying to convince Stites to purchase life insurance, to which Stites said shes too young and has no need for it, according to the sellers affidavit. He has long maintained his innocence and claims that he and Stites had a secret, consensual relationship. April 27, 2023, at 2:14 p.m. Sheriff: Woman Held in Death of Child, 6, Found in a Bucket. Stacey Stites was just 19 when she was killed in 1996. We dont even know that a homicide or a crime occurred. The woman was identified as Shalynn Jones of Compton, according to the Los Angeles County coroners office. Five days before his scheduled execution date, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles unanimously recommended that Texas Governor Greg Abbott grant Reed a 120-day reprieve. Investigators said she had been raped and strangled, then left on the side of the road. They say now, all they can do is hope police find answers soon. During Thursday's press conference, they also said Brown was working her 2nd job, delivering newspapers to homes along a rural road in Bastrop County when she was murdered. City and county officials are calling this data extremely concerning. Ultimately, Fennell was cleared as a suspect. I'm hurt to the core. All were trying to do is put a name and a face to an unknown body, and the best way we got to do that these days is through DNA.. It says that a preliminary autopsy report indicates that 29-year-old Samantha Dean died of an apparent gunshot. She's buried with that wedding ring, and she's buried in her wedding dress. The Bastrop Police Department is investigating the death of a woman. The complaint and search warrant were initially sealed by the court to avoid compromising the investigation.". Her arrest comes after the sheriff announced Wednesday that they were investigating a homicide after a 6-year-old girl was found dead in a bucket Wednesday morning. Stacey Stites was weeks away from marrying her fianc when she went missing. The state argued that none of these methods establishing the time of death are totally reliable or have pinpoint accuracy, and Dr. Baden agreed. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Fennell was given two polygraphs in the months following Stites death. BASTROP, La. The examiner determined he was deceptive in both answers, according to the examiners report. 25-year-old woman found dead in burning brush off Spanish Town Road has It was locked, but he noted a bag of clothing in the back of the truck and a broken piece of belt with the buckle attached, just outside of the drivers door. MyNewsLA.com wont sell your information and you can unsubscribe at any time. Sheriff: Woman Held in Death of Child, 6, Found in a Bucket - US News The Innocence Project, a non-profit legal organization that works to free wrongly convicted people, picked up Reeds case in 2012. The search is on for answers, and whoever is responsible, for killing a young man from Bastrop. My son was arrested for the murder of Stacey Stites, said his mother Sandra Reed. He was engaged to the woman, and they had been in a romantic relationship with each other for at least three years. Eric Licas is a crime and public safety reporter for the Daily Pilot. Three teens killed in Bastrop shooting | WGNO.com Lawhons attorney is a Monroe-based lawyer, Lavalle Salomon. She was 20 miles from her Cedar Creek home in the early hours of July 9 when she crashed into a tree. Lake sturgeon can grow to lengths of 8 feet and weigh up to 300 pounds. Bastrop County Sheriff Maurice. Like I said I was trying to get logs to start a fire I pulled a log out of these bushes right here and never saw her exclaimed Waller. Officials said on Tuesday he remains in the hospital under guard. That information would be entered into NamUs, a federal missing persons database that collects cases from law enforcement, medical examiners, coroners and family members of missing persons. This is the one who attacked me. "She had her plans, and now somebody's taken that away," Carol Stites said at the time of the murder. The officer called it in but nothing seemed amiss, so the officer continued on his patrol. Every time a new person comes forward, it's more colorful and creative than the last, Phillips said. According to a police report, Fennell allegedly told one of his colleagues he was going to try to get intelligence from her. (KNOE) -It was on this trail right through here. Raul Anthony Caballero was flown to the hospital by helicopter after he . By the time she was discovered there was not enough soft tissue to where you could tell whether shed been stabbed or raped or anything. Cook said that investigators arent suitably confident in the veracity of that confession, and that this renewed examination aims to verify the confession as well as connect the man who claims he killed the woman to her death. Every year, Smithville has their jamboree. With just weeks to go before his scheduled execution, Reed garnered attention from the national media, including Dr. Phil, Oprah and The New York Times. They're still investigating, but Campbell says they hope to have a suspect, or a better idea of what happened, soon. There was an impressive response to the scene, according to local independent investigator David Fisher. She grabbed the keys and she handed them to Jimmy so that he could go look for Stacey.. His inspirations include his parents, Diane Arbus, Kurt Vonnegut, Ronnie James Dio, Randy The Macho Man Savage, John Waters, and his orange tabby cat named Critter. That's what I'm tryin' to do I have to hold onto my faith, and stand on this truth and the facts. Sheriff: Woman held in death of child, 6, found in a bucket The Bastrop police chief questioned Fennell and said he was visibly shaken and concerned, but not in a state of panic, according to the police report. It wasnt boyfriend-girlfriend, it was purely sexual.. ELGIN, Texas (KXAN) The Bastrop County Sheriff's Office said an arrest was made in connection to the murder of a woman found dead near Elgin in November. Jimmy stated that it was part of a glass that Stacey drank out of, and that it was not in the truck broken like that before. We cant give too much information, because even though we may have a glimmer of who we think this might be, we cant reveal that because we dont know that, Cook said. He says the way the blood settled in the front of Stites body suggests she was killed before 3 a.m. and her body laid in a different position for hours before she was found on her back. Lake sturgeon can grow to lengths of 8 feet and weigh up to 300 pounds. Officials said the investigation began. All the latest on Orange County from Orange County. And never once have I ever had a case where I didn't at some point say, gosh, I wish law enforcement would have done whatever it is, X.. Micheal Waller and his fianc still cant believe what happened on the edge of their property on Sunday afternoon. The lead DNA analyst in the case said the semen found in Stites body had been deposited at the same time as her killing. The jury took less than a day to come back with a decision in the Stites case, sentencing Reed to death for her murder. Update: Arrest made in November homicide - myarklamiss.com Officials would then compare that profile against the missing people in the NameUs database to begin building leads. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? 1) Robert Lee Willie. *Update* The Bastrop County Sheriff's Office has identified the woman who was found in a parking lot in the 100 block of Stephen F. Austin Blvd. The trial of Tod Lawhon began today, April 25. A deputy. Your email address will not be published. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Daily Pilot. Lawhon is currently booked in the Bastrop jail, and his bond has been revoked. Rodney Reed, the man whose DNA matched that found in Stites body, was convicted of her murder and has sat on death row for 22 years. That defendant divulged details of the bodys condition and location to sufficiently convince law enforcement at the time that he was the party responsible for the death, the district attorney offices motion for inquest read. There has never been any evidence, whatsoever, there was any type of relationship, Stites sister Debra Oliver told 20/20. Theres no notes, theres no letters, no phone records.. Fennell spoke with the media about losing his fiance. Officials Sunday released the name of a 28-year-old woman whose body was found near an unused railroad track in Carson. I wish [law enforcement] would have searched the apartment, Tanner told Roberts. Firefighters Discover Man's Body While Battling Apartment Fire in South L.A. Police Investigate No-Hit Shooting in Long Beach, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. Its been eight years since the Innocence Project has picked up Reeds case and they have made repeated efforts to appeal and get a new trial. Oliver and her mother say they had no doubts that Reed is responsible for Stites murder. They had previous domestic disputes that police responded to, but there was never any physical violence, just verbal only, Hsu said. The woman was identified as Shalynn Jones of Compton, according to the Los . Exiting were photographers, serologists, physical evidence collection people. We have videotape of the body of Stacey stites being examined and manipulated and put into a body bag [with] her arms folded, Barry Scheck, another attorney with the Innocence Project, said. Reeds attorney, Lydia Clay-Jackson, said he denied it all.. Detectives are actively following up on leads. Lawyers from the organization say they have the evidence to prove investigators arrested the wrong man all those years ago. The last time Carol Stites said she saw her daughter was on the evening of April 22, 1996, right before she and her fianc were about to head upstairs to their apartment. They also wouldn't say if Brown slammed into the tree because she had been shot or if the crash was staged. In an affidavit, Fletcher recalls Fennell saying he suspects Stites is sleeping with a Black man, while cursing and using a racial slur. Who was the suspected gunman in the Uvalde school shooting? Jurors are being selected on Tuesday, April 25, for the trial of Bastrop dentist, Dr. Tod Lawhon, who is accused of shooting and killing his wife just before Christmas day in 2020. She worked hard for that wedding dress, and we all decided that that's what she should be buried in.. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window). We know for sure that, 100% positive, that Rodney Reed murdered my sister., 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. The Bastrop County Sheriff's Office released the following statement: "There have been a few Facebook posts criticizing the Sheriffs Office for not posting details of a recent Murder investigation. If I wouldnt have known her, I wouldnt have been associated with her [and] I wouldnt be in this situation, Reed told ABC News in a 2019 jailhouse interview. MyNewsLA.com wont sell your information and you can unsubscribe at any time. It's a concoction of creative, brilliant lawyers trying to save a condemned man -- who is worthily condemned, I might add., Prosecutor Lisa Tanner agreed that Reed, not Fennell, is guilty, saying that she is still sure the right man has been convicted beyond a reasonable doubt of Stacey Stites murder.. They asked Fennell, who had arrived at the scene, to unlock the truck and point out anything unusual. [The medical examiner] said that, Nobody should have relied on what I said., The examiner wrote, My estimate of time of deathwas only an estimate, and should not have been used at trial as an accurate statement of when Ms. Stites died.. According to Interim Police Chief Anthony Evans, the body was. Betty Carter, "Red"s grandma, says she got the call from a friend, who works with Bastrop Police. She really loved Jimmy.. A deputy found the woman while doing a routine check of the lot. Alicia Slater, one of Stites coworkers at H-E-B came forward in 2014, and in an affidavit she claimed Stites told her she was having an affair with Reed. (KNOE) - Jurors are being selected on Tuesday, April 25, for the trial of Bastrop dentist, Dr. Tod Lawhon, who is accused of shooting and killing his wife just before Christmas day in . Deputies found Ambrosio Gonzales shot and killed in his car on May 24. . Linda Schlueter, who was also around Stites age, was attacked and had her car stolen seven months after Stites death. It cries for justice, and we achieved it.. She earned an extra 50 cents an hour to work in the produce department, but had to get to work very early in the morning. It'll be there. Shea Maloney, who hosts a podcast that covered the case, said Carol Stites saw her daughter and Fennell embrace outside her window, then saw them laughing and joking together as they made their way upstairs. If there is no family reference sample or no DNA match, then theres not much they can do, Wescott said. Last year, Texas officials granted Reed an indefinite stay of execution to examine claims that Reed is actually innocent. Missing Kyle woman found dead in Bastrop Co. grave, suspect - WOAI "Jimmy pointed out a piece of green colored plastic, Bastrop PD Det. Well send you the latest headlines every morning and every weekday afternoon. I knew we were in trouble, Clay-Jackson said. Calm Monday; watching for storm chances Thursday evening into Friday, Austin group hosts vigil for those affected by violent crimes, Mammatus clouds over Central Texas as severe threat comes to an end. Make sure to check back for more details as the trial continues and more information becomes available. We're getting married, that was just about them, Carol Stites said. Bastrop dentist found guilty of manslaughter as trial comes to a close. Bastrop Police Chief Allen Campbell says they're not confirming Lee was the one found dead until autopsy results come back, but in the meantime, they're leaving no stone unturned. There's no way it's gonna go away.. Bastrop County murder suspect who told police he 'maybe' stabbed victim There are outliers and I also understand that. There's no 10-year sentence that frees me of the things that [Fennell] did to me.. Woman discovered dead with gunshot wound in Bastrop County A spokesperson could not be reached to determine Jones city of residence. The sheriff's office said he had unexplained puncture wounds to his body and neck and he was unable to talk. Bastrop County law enforcement officials are relaunching an investigation into the identity of the woman, whose badly decomposed body was discovered along U.S. 290 east of Elgin by law enforcement . Police initially looked at Jimmy as a suspect, which is normal given he was the fianc, Tanner said. Whoops! I sat out here all night.. they aint gonna sleep here tonight either he said confidently. It was really sad, said Michael Waller. Brown said when Reed learned of Stites murder, Reed told him he was afraid because he knew he was a Black male having sex with a white girl in Bastrop, and how that could be seen as unacceptable. Man and woman found dead after reports of argument in Fountain Valley bedroom. Race played a big part. "I remember I was asking her about her engagement ring, Alicia Slater said. Required fields are marked *. APD investigating after dead body found in south . In an interview with ABC News Deborah Roberts, Roberts pointed to research suggesting sperm can last 72 days or longer. Early on I was somewhat upset, just for knowing her. Therefore, the analyst said, if someone matched the DNA, it would indicate they committed the murder. All the bridal stuff was still sitting on my dining room table, she said. Officials Sunday released the name of a 28-year-old woman whose body was found near an unused railroad track in Carson. Reeds legal team has also raised questions about the original investigation. I stand on that. The Bastrop County Sheriff's Office also addressed its delay in releasing information on the case. The two had been in a relationship for several years, Hsu said. A resident called 911 early Sunday and summoned officers to a residence on 17000 block of Santa Suzanne Street . He was then taken to an ambulance to an Austin-area hospital. Boyfriend arrested after 19-year-old found shot dead in Bastrop County Prosecutor Lisa Tanner said Stites left home at 3 a.m. to make her 3:30 a.m. shift at the grocery story, according to Fennell. Relatives of a female who lived at the residence with the suspect found him injured in the driveway. But once we knew that she had been raped, our emotions were like, it had to be somebody else.. Stacey Stites went missing in 1996, when she was just 19. The all-white jury unanimously decided Reed was guilty. The indictment. He said he had hoped the jury would hear the evidence and see he was innocent. City News Service contributed to this report. Firefighters Discover Man's Body While Battling Apartment Fire in South L.A. Police Investigate No-Hit Shooting in Long Beach, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. Im proud of the work my entire staff did on this case, Tew said. The caller said they had heard a verbal argument and a loud noise coming from a bedroom. They also questioned why his truck was returned to him within days after the murder. BASTROP, La. A Bastrop County grand jury declined to indict a woman accused of exploiting girls living at the Refuge Ranch, a rehabilitation center that treats survivors of sex trafficking, according to . UPDATE: Body found in the woods identified - myarklamiss.com Through every trial, hearing and court update, Sandra Reed is standing by her son. There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. I saw that Rodney had been given an execution date. I didn't realize until then that what she told me had so much of an implication in the case.. Police arrested her boyfriend for public intoxication, put him in a patrol car and took him to the police station. They argued Reed put the truck less than 0.6 miles from his home and walked home. Jimmy pointed out that one of Stacey's earrings was on the passenger side floorboard.. Just 19 years old at the time, Stites didnt show up for work one morning in 1996, and was found dead hours later. . The cops showed up, one being Jimmy Fennell Jr., and pretty much separated us apart so that they could figure out what was going on, Lear told 20/20 about the incident. The trial is happening in courtroom one of the Morehouse Parish Courthouse. I cant imagine DNA will in any way, shape or form, 40 years later, open a criminal investigation, Goertz said. I didnt see it at first. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Check for a confirmation email, and then you're all set with MyNewsLA.com! Tanner said there are exceptions., There are no absolutes in science, I completely agree with that, she said. Jane Doe's DNA running through national databases The police have not released how the woman died or made an arrest in this case. I have a son's life to save, she said. The DPS Crime Lab arrives down this dirt road in the middle of a pine forest, he said. in Bastrop. They found Stacey on the side of a road in a bunch of wildflowers, Carol Stites remembered. She was into everything and did everything, and friends with everybody.. Eleven years after Stites murder, Texas Rangers investigated Fennell after a woman named Connie Lear accused him of raping her while he had her in custody. Stacey Stites and her fianc Jimmy Fennell. RELATED: Bastrop man arrested after deadly shooting. A woman is found dead inside of a crashed vehicle in Bastrop County but deputies say the fatal injuries were from something else. When officers responded to the scene, they found Lenora Lawhon dead in the couples home. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies responded around 12:50 p.m. to the . The DA never, never talked to me about plea agreements, Lear said. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Gill-King declined to answer questions about this case or how forensic anthropology unravels the mysteries surrounding the deaths of unidentified bodies. I got an opportunity to be in the prison with Rodney on the day that stay came down we got a chance to tell Rodney of the stay of execution., Dobbs, Stites sister, says, It's just frustrating. 14 children and 1 teacher were killed in the Uvalde school shooting, officials confirm, Moriah Wilson murder: What we know so far about the crime and Kaitlin Armstrong, Example video title will go here for this video. The victim has been identified as 32-year-old Jessica Marie Jefferson Brown from Cedar Creek. He also initially denied dating her and was asked to provide a DNA sample. No arrests or injuries were reported in those previous encounters. ( KTVE/KARD) According to Morehouse Parish Chief Deputy James Mardis, three teenagers are dead after an early morning shooting on Bentley Street in Bastrop, La. Officers had been called to their home multiple times over the years in response to verbal arguments, Hsu said. "My babies, my kids, my grandkids, they're my heart. Breaking news for Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties. Deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department responded around 12:50 p.m. Friday to the 20800 block of South Santa Fe Avenue, near the San Diego (405) Freeway, regarding a person down. That same morning, Carol Stites got the call that her daughter didnt make it to work. But you leave it to God.. For a 19-year-old thats kind of a big transition., Stites sister Debra Oliver told 20/20 Stacey didnt share any concerns with her. Coroner Identifies Woman Found Dead Near Railroad Track in Carson Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Bastrop County's tip line is (866) 930-TIPS. I thought maybe [the] truck broke down or something., Carol Stites said she immediately called Fennell to let him know, and he said hed be down in just a minute., He's getting dressed, he's tucking in his shirt, Tanner said. The woman was identified as Shalynn Jones, according to the Los Angeles . Please reload the page and try again. Lisa Tanner was the prosecutor in the Stacey Stites case. Bastrop County Sheriff Maurice Cook, District Attorney Bryan Goertz and other county officials looked on last week as Dr. Harrell Gill-King, director of University of North Texas Center for Human Identification, extracted bone samples from the woman's decaying skeletal remains. Hes trying to put the pieces together to create a new world for himself., This is a person that is supposed to protect you, Lear said. I've been doing this a long time. He's had the same values I was raised with. I think he felt bad that he didn't get up and take her to work that day., Fennell himself has always maintained his innocence. And, at the same time, I got to fight these people to save my son's life.. Hawaii Island police launched a second-degree murder investigation in Puna on Friday. Investigators said they saw similarities between Schlueters assault and Stites murder, which led them to see if Reeds DNA was on file. He took out his weapon. David Board said there were bodily fluids on the floorboard of the truck. Upon arrival, officers discovered 29-year-old Jessica Lee dead inside of the apartment complex from at least one gunshot wound. Bunnak Landon, 43, of Harahan, was booked Wednesday on charges of first-degree murder . After three hours of deliberation, the jury came back with a manslaughter guilty verdict on April 27 around 8 p.m., according to the Ouachita and Morehouse Parish District Attorney Steve Tew. ". Experts for the defense also claim the time of Stites death was hours earlier than the 3 a.m. to 5 a.m. window the prosecution argued at Reeds original trial. The body of a woman in what authorities said was the middle stage of decomposition was found Friday in Carson. If there is no overriding reason, such as public safety concerns, announcement of an investigation is often delayed for various reasons. One of Stites coworkers at H-E-B came forward in 2014, and in an affidavit she claimed Stites told her she was having an affair with Reed. 10-year-old shot during argument, Marion man arrested, Black mans decapitated remains found after he warned his mom he was targeted by truckloads of white guys, KNOE Sunday Night Forecast with Jake Lambright, KNOE Sunday Evening Forecast with Jake Lambright, KNOE Saturday Night Forecast with Jake Lambright. Woman found dead in Bastrop car not killed by crash - YouTube It wouldn't have made any sense for them to keep it any longer than they did.. Those who choose to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477. The Travis County Sheriff's Office says the woman was discovered in the 100 block of Stony Point Drive, near the intersection of Pearce and Wolf lanes. Please reload the page and try again. Who Killed Stacey Stites? - The Austin Chronicle Stacey would pick him up at various locations, one being the H-E-B [grocery store] parking lot, Reeds former attorney Jimmie Brown said. They haven't made any funeral arrangements just yet. The last words out of her mouth was, Mom, I love you. And I said, I know you do, Stites remembered. Investigators asked if he strangled Stites and if he was involved with her death, and to both he answered no..
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