Latest news with #capitalmurder
Daily Mail
a day ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Cops make horrifying discovery inside creepy secret trap door underneath grandmother's house
Authorities made a chilling discovery beneath a grandmother's home in Texas, uncovering a hidden trapdoor that led to the capture of a fugitive wanted for capital murder. Trevor McEuen, 33, had been on the run since May 5, when he removed his court-ordered ankle monitor and failed to appear for his trial in the 2023 shooting death of his neighbor, Aaron Martinez. In the wake of his disappearance, McEuen was added to Texas' 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list, with a $30,000 reward offered for information leading to his arrest. After weeks of searching, authorities received a tip that led them to a residence about 65 mils east of Dallas in Van Zandt County - McEuen's grandmother's house. More than 30 officers from local, state, and federal agencies, coordinated by the Kaufman County Sheriff's Office, converged on the property on Sunday evening around 11 pm. 'We got our team together to execute. It took us a little longer than what we wanted. He didn't want to come out,' Kaufman County Sheriff Bryan Beavers told Fox4. 'So we talked and talked, surrounded and talked, then finally used a little tear gas. And we couldn't find him. Then we went boots on the ground inside the house.' After hours of searching the Grand Saline home, officers discovered a hidden trapdoor beneath the floorboards. When they opened it, they found McEuen barefoot and covered in mud, hiding in a crawl space. Still, McEuen resisted arrest, refusing to leave the makeshift hideout, forcing authorities to take further action. 'We found a scuttle hole that he'd cut into the floor,' Beavers said. 'Then we got a little negotiating with him, a little more tear gas, and he decided to come out.' McEuen now faces multiple charges, including capital murder, four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and arson. He is accused of fatally shooting 35-year-old Aaron Martinez in Forney, Texas, in May 2023 - allegedly firing between 15 and 30 shots execution-style into Martinez's head. 'This person has done some very heinous things and needs to be put in jail,' Beavers said. 'And the Martinez family needs justice finally. We've got him in custody. I think he's gonna get to see justice.' The discovery of the hidden trapdoor and McEuen's capture brought a wave of relief to the Martinez family and the surrounding community. 'I am happy,' Salvador Martinez, the victim's father, said in an interview with CBS News. 'This time, the sheriff, the city of Kaufman did their job. Don't let him out again. He's not supposed to get another chance at bond.' The Martinez family had previously raised concerns about McEuen's potential to flee, citing a history of bond violations and alleged threats against the victim. 'We hope he gets zero bond. We hope the trial is expeditious and that a jury finds him guilty,' Carlos Quintanilla, a family representative, said. McEuen was originally arrested in May 2023, released on bond, and later indicted for capital murder in November of that year. In September 2024, he was released on a $1 million bond. He reportedly violated his bond conditions by posting photos of Martinez and his relatives on Instagram. Given the publicity surrounding the case, McEuen's defense attorney has since signaled a possible move to request a change of venue. 'We'll probably be filing for a change of venue just because this has been such a hot-button topic in Kaufman County,' McEuen's attorney, Abigail Spain, said. 'We just want to make sure that our client gets an unbiased jury.' The Kaufman County Sheriff's Office has stated it remains committed to securing justice for the Martinez family and is currently investigating whether McEuen received assistance during his time as a fugitive. In light of the ongoing legal challenges, the Martinez family has also urged officials to consider transferring the case to another jurisdiction if Kaufman County is unable to prosecute it effectively.
Associated Press
2 days ago
- General
- Associated Press
Chief justice appoints judge to handle case against man accused of killing college student
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama Chief Justice Sarah Stewart on Tuesday used a new law to appoint a retired judge to handle the case against a man accused of the 2019 killing of a college student that drew national attention. The new law, calls the Speedy Trial Act, allows the chief justice to appoint visiting judges in order to get criminal cases to trial more quickly. Stewart appointed retired Macon County Circuit Judge Tom Young to handle the case of Ibraheem Yazeed who is accused of killing Aniah Blanchard. Yazeed has pleaded not guilty to capital murder charges. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall last month asked Stewart to make an appointment, writing that, 'our entire state has watched the repeated delays in this case with angst and frustration.' Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey also referred to the case while signing the legislation into law. Stewart in the appointment letter wrote that 'any delays in this case have not been attributable to the judges in the circuit, but rather to circumstances beyond their control.' However, she said she agreed that the interests of the public require the expeditious resolution of this case.' An appointed attorney for Yazeed did not immediately return an email seeking comment. Blanchard, a Southern Union State Community College student and stepdaughter of prominent UFC fighter Walt Harris, was last seen on Oct. 23, 2019, at an Auburn gas station. Her remains were discovered about a month later in a wooded area of Macon County.
CBS News
3 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Teen arrested in fatal shooting of two brothers in Arlington, police say
A teenager has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of two brothers during what Arlington police described as a high-risk transaction that went wrong. Xavier Weddington, 19, is facing a capital murder charge in the deaths of 17-year-old Jason Cuevas and 21-year-old Bryan Cuevas. The shooting occurred on Thursday at the Paddock on Park Row Apartments in the 400 block of West Park Row Drive, according to the Arlington Police Department. Xavier Weddington, 19 CBS News Texas Brothers were found shot outside Officers responded to the scene shortly after 5 p.m. and found the Cuevas brothers outside one of the apartment buildings with gunshot wounds. They were transported to a nearby hospital, where they were later pronounced dead. Suspect claims he was shot About 30 minutes later, 911 dispatchers received a call reporting that a man — later identified as Weddington — had been shot in the leg. Officers found him in the 2500 block of Sherry Street, roughly 3.7 miles from the original crime scene. Weddington told police he had been shot by an unknown suspect while walking to a relative's home. However, investigators said his story was inconsistent and raised suspicions. Witness identifies the shooter A witness from the apartment complex later identified Weddington as the shooter in a photo lineup, police said. Detectives learned that Weddington regularly stayed at a nearby apartment and confirmed that a friend had picked him up from the crime scene and driven him to the Sherry Street location — a timeline consistent with the witness account. Police suspect a "high-risk transaction" "Investigators believe the Cuevas brothers arranged to meet with Mr. Weddington at the apartment complex to complete a high-risk transaction that ultimately went south," Arlington police said in a news release. "Multiple firearms were recovered at the crime scene." Weddington was arrested Friday by the U.S. Marshals North Texas Fugitive Task Force. He was booked into the Arlington City Jail and later transferred to the Tarrant County Jail. Investigation still in progress The investigation remains ongoing.
Fox News
3 days ago
- General
- Fox News
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. 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. 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. 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.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Little Rock police searching for man connected to May deadly shooting
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Little Rock police are looking for a man that they say is connected to a May 11 homicide on Auxor Road. According to investigators, Marshon Conway is wanted for capital murder in connection with the deadly shooting of 39-year-old Lee Battles of Benton. Little Rock police identify victim in deadly Sunday night shooting Investigators say that Little Rock officers responded to the 9000 block of Auxor Road and found Battles in a lot suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Police said he was transported to a nearby hospital, where he later died from his injuries. Anyone with information on Conway's whereabouts is asked to contact the Little Rock Police Department at 501-371-4660. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
