Latest news with #McEuen
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Texas Fugitive Wanted For Capital Murder Captured After Month-Long Manhunt
Trevor McEuen, a 32-year-old capital murder suspect on Texas' 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list, was arrested early Monday in Van Zandt County after a month-long manhunt, the Kaufman County Sheriff's Office announced. McEuen, who skipped a May 5 court appearance for the 2023 killing of Aaron Martinez, 35, in Forney, was taken into custody without incident following an hours-long SWAT standoff at his grandparent's home, where he was allegedly hiding under the house. 'His grandmother is in her 90s. From what I'm hearing, he was hiding under the house and was hiding from her as well,' said McEuen's attorney, Abigail Spain, per CBS 11. 'So, I am hopeful that they would not be facing any charges for this. I don't believe that they were aiding and abetting.' The Kaufman County Sheriff's Office posted a photo on social media showing McEuen, barefoot and mud-covered, in a police vehicle. Authorities located him through weeks of investigative work and surveillance, with assistance from the Van Zandt County Sheriff's Office and the Texas Department of Public Safety. 'This arrest is the result of relentless and coordinated efforts by law enforcement personnel who worked around the clock to ensure that this dangerous individual was brought back into custody,' Sheriff Bryan Beavers said. 'The safety of our community was at stake, and we are proud of the partnership and professionalism displayed by every agency involved.' McEuen faces charges including capital murder by terror threat, five counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, arson, bail jumping, and failure to appear. He is held in Kaufman County Jail, with no bond amount listed as of Monday afternoon. Authorities are investigating whether anyone knowingly aided McEuen while he was a fugitive. Martinez's family told CBS News Texas that McEuen had previously threatened Martinez, fired at his property, and made racially charged remarks, though Martinez did not pursue charges at the time. McEuen allegedly shot Martinez multiple times on May 1, 2023, and admitted to the murder after a SWAT standoff. Initially arrested that month, McEuen was released on a $1 million bond in September 2024 but violated conditions by posting photos of Martinez and his relatives on Instagram. Released again on a $2 million bond in December, he cut off his ankle monitor at 5:33 a.m. on May 5, 2025, and allegedly set a house on fire before fleeing. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott had offered a $30,000 reward for information leading to McEuen's arrest, but the Texas DPS said the reward would not be paid. A news conference on the arrest is expected, though details about the standoff's duration remain undisclosed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Texas murder suspect Trevor McEuen caught after weeks on the run
A Texas capital murder suspect who was out on bond and failed to appear in court was captured Monday after a weeks-long manhunt for the fugitive. "Early this morning, fugitive Trevor McEuen was taken into custody," Kaufman County Sheriff's Office wrote on Facebook Monday, sharing a photo of a muddied and barefoot McEuen handcuffed in the backseat of a law enforcement vehicle. McEuen had been on the run since early May, when he allegedly cut off his ankle monitor and fled the day his trial was scheduled to start in connection with the 2023 shooting of his neighbor, rancher and horse trainer Aaron Martinez. Manhunt For Texas Murder Suspect Trevor Mceuen Enrages Officials Demanding Stricter Bail: 'They Will Walk' McEuen allegedly admitted to shooting and killing 35-year-old Martinez as the rancher sat in his truck outside his home. McEuen was held on $2 million bond. A judge declined to reduce that bond amount last May, and McEuen ultimately posted bond and was released in September with an ankle monitor, FOX 4 reported. He was taken back into custody after allegedly violating the terms of his release, but McEuen posted $2 million bond again in December and was released a second time. Read On The Fox News App He is facing charges of capital murder by terror threat, murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The Texas Department of Public Safety issued an additional warrant against McEuen on May 6 for arson of a habitation, according to the Midland Reporter-Telegram. When he cut off his ankle monitor, McEuen allegedly set fire to the home where he was staying in Van Zandt County before officers arrived. Texas Manhunt Underway For Suspect Who Removed Ankle Monitor Gov. Greg Abbott has since cited the case when pushing for bail reform, including a state constitutional amendment that would require Texas judges to automatically deny bail for violent crimes, including murder. On May 15, Abbott said the award for information leading to McEuen's capture increased to $30,000, as he urged Texans to submit an anonymous tip to "help law enforcement apprehend this heinous criminal." The Republican governor said McEuen "is exactly why Texas must fix its broken and deadly bail system." The sheriff's office promised additional details about the circumstances of the arrest would be released later Monday morning. Fox News Digital's Audrey Conklin contributed to this article source: Texas murder suspect Trevor McEuen caught after weeks on the run
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Reward climbs to $30K for North Texas murder suspect, fugitive
The Brief Capital murder suspect Trevor McEuen has been added to the state's most wanted fugitive list. McEuen removed his ankle monitor and failed to show pu for his murder trail earlier this month. A total of $30,000 in reward money has been put up for information leading to his arrest. VAN ZANDT COUNTY, Texas - The reward for information leading to the capture of a capital murder suspect who removed his ankle monitor and did not show up for his murder trial earlier this month has increased to $30,000, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Thursday. Abbott also announced 32-year-old Trevor McEuen had been added to the state's most wanted list. The Public Safety Office added $10,000 to the reward on Thursday to bring the total reward for McEuen's arrest to $30,000, with the Kaufman County Sheriff's Office and Kaufman County Crime Stoppers each offering a $10,000 reward. What they're saying "Trevor McEuen is exactly why Texas must fix its broken and deadly bail system," Abbott said. "A violent criminal like McEuen charged with capital murder should never be released on our streets. That's why I made bail reform an emergency item that must pass this legislative session. I urge all Texans with information on McEuen to call the Texas Crime Stoppers hotline or submit an anonymous tip online to help law enforcement apprehend this heinous criminal. Working together, we will bring fugitives like Trevor McEuen to justice." What you can do In order to be eligible for the cash reward, tipsters should either call the Texas Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-8477 or by submitting an online tip through the Texas Department of Public Safety. The backstory McEuen was scheduled to appear in court on May 5, 2025, for the start of his capital murder trial, but instead cut off his ankle monitor and disappeared in Van Zandt County. McEuen is facing charges of capital murder, four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and murder. According to the Kaufman County Sheriff's Office, McEuen was staying with relatives in nearby Van Zandt County while awaiting trial. He removed his court-ordered ankle monitor at 5:33 a.m. on Monday and allegedly set the house on fire before officers arrived. McEuen is accused of shooting and killing his neighbor, Aaron Martinez, on Neal Road in Forney on May 1, 2023. Investigators said he shot 35-year-old Martinez multiple times and then admitted to the murder after a SWAT standoff. Last May, a judge refused to reduce McEuen's $2 million bond. In September, he posted that bond and was released from jail. Then a week later, he violated his terms. McEuen was released again after posting another $2 million bond in December. The Source Reward information for Trevor McEuen's arrest comes from Gov. Greg Abbott's office. Background information on McEuen's trial comes from the Van Zandt County Sheriff's Office and previous FOX 4 reporting.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Reward increased to $30K for East Texas fugitive, Gov. Abbott says
AUSTIN, Texas (KETK) – Gov. Greg Abbott has increased the reward offered for information leading to Trevor McEuen's arrest, Police searching for missing man last seen in Tyler As of now, the reward is up to $30,000 after Abbott, the Kaufman County Crime Stoppers and the Kaufman County Sheriff's Office each offered $10,000 for any information that leads to McEuen's arrest. 'I urge all Texans with information on McEuen to call the Texas Crime Stoppers hotline or submit an anonymous tip online to help law enforcement apprehend this heinous criminal. Working together, we will bring fugitives like Trevor McEuen to justice,' Abbot said. To be eligible for the reward, people must submit their tips to Texas Crime Stoppers at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477) or online. Anyone with information will remain anonymous and should avoid apprehending McEuen as he is considered armed and dangerous. Trevor McEuen was charged with capital murder and four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after killing Aaron Martinez in 2023. McEuen, who was released on bail, has been on the run since May 5 after removing his ankle monitor and leaving his family home in Van Zandt County hours before he was due in court. Bullard ISD delays opening of new middle school till 2026 Since McEuen's disappearance, the Texas Department of Public Safety has added him to its 10 Most Wanted Fugitive List. Courtesy of the Texas Department of Public Safety Abbott continues to seek stricter bail laws after McEuen's disappearance, claiming he should never have been let out. 'Trevor McEuen is exactly why Texas must fix its broken and deadly bail system,' Abbott said. 'A violent criminal like McEuen charged with capital murder should never be released on our streets. That's why I made bail reform an emergency item that must pass this legislative session.' KETK reached out to the governor's office which released this statement: 'Everyone involved in the bail system has a responsibility to put the safety of Texans first—from the activist judges who set weak bail to the legislators who have the opportunity to keep repeat offenders off our streets. Texas must keep dangerous criminals like McEuen behind bars. This session, Gov. Abbott will work with the legislature to require judges deny bail to criminals charged with capital murder and other heinous, violent crimes. Democrats must choose – support the safety of the citizens they represent, or the criminals who kill them.' Andrew Mahaleris, Abbott's press secretary Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Abbott seeks stricter bail laws after East Texas murder suspect escapes while under house arrest
VAN ZANDT COUNTY, Texas (KETK) – Gov. Greg Abbott continues to seek stricter bail laws after authorities lost track of a murder suspect in Van Zandt County last week. On May 5, Trevor McEuen was due in court after he was charged with murder in connection with the 2023 fatal shooting of Aaron Martinez in Kaufman County. At around 5:33 a.m. that day, McEuen, who had been released from jail after posting a $2,000,000 bond, removed his ankle monitor and left his family's Van Zandt County home where he was confined to house arrest. $10K reward issued for 2023 fatal shooting suspect after running from Van Zandt County authorities McEuen's disappearance triggered a search of Van Zandt County and the issuing of a $10,000 reward for information leading to his arrest after officials concluded that he had left the county. On Wednesday, FOX4 in Dallas reported that Abbott had a roundtable discussion centered around his desire for the Texas Legislature to pass new laws that will deny bail to those charged with certain violent offences. 'Everyone involved in the bail system has a responsibility to put the safety of Texans first—from the activist judges who set weak bail to the legislators who have the opportunity to keep repeat offenders off our streets,' Abbott's press secretary, Andrew Mahaleris, said to KETK on Monday. 'Texas must keep dangerous criminals like McEuen behind bars. This session, Gov. Abbott will work with the legislature to require judges deny bail to criminals charged with capital murder and other heinous, violent crimes. Democrats must choose – support the safety of the citizens they represent, or the criminals who kill them.' The main bill proposed this session to change Texas's bail laws is Senate Joint Resolution 5, which would present voters with a constitutional amendment that authorizes 'the denial of bail under limited circumstances to a person accused of certain violent or sexual offenses or of continuous trafficking of persons.' SJR 5 passed the Texas Senate in a 28 to 2 vote on Feb. 20. According to the Texas Tribune, similar bills have passed the Senate in recent years but have died in the House since they need a two-thirds majority vote to pass amendments to the Texas Constitution. 'The Senate has passed bail reform legislation in every session for the past six years, but, unfortunately, every single bail reform bill has died in the Texas House. The Texas Senate will continue to pass this bail reform package until the Texas House takes action,' Lt. Gov Dan Patrick said on Feb. 20. 'Repeat offenders should not be allowed to roam freely, continuing their crime sprees and causing chaos across our state. The Texas Senate has listened to the concerns of Texans statewide whose lives have been destroyed by criminals released on low bonds or no bonds at all set by irresponsible judges or magistrates.' Other senate bills like Senate Joint Resolution 1 and Senate Bill 9 also passed in February and are waiting to pass through the Texas House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence, along with SJR 5. SJR 1 proposes a constitutional amendment denying bail to undocumented immigrants charged with felonies and SB 9 denies personal bond for anyone charged with murder by manufacturing or delivering fentanyl, unlawful possession of a firearm, violating certain court orders like family violence protective orders and making terroristic threats. Trinity County Jail overcrowding burdens local taxpayers, sheriff says The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas updated its 'Bail In Texas: A Brief for State and Local Policymakers' in January. The brief discusses the costs of unwarranted pretrial detention for local jails, those unable to afford bail and the Constitution. 'Unwarranted pretrial incarceration is costly and increases crime. It also breaks important promises in our Constitution and our laws about what justice is supposed to look like. The U.S. Constitution requires that in each case, before locking someone up before trial, the government must prove that pretrial detention is necessary at a fair hearing,' ACLU of Texas, senior manager of policy, Nick Hudson wrote in the brief. 'Furthermore, pretrial detention should only be allowed in extremely limited circumstances. State and local policymakers must take steps to eliminate wealth-based detention while respecting the presumption of innocence and the fundamental right to pretrial freedom.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
