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November 6, 2014 - In the summer of 1960 a tragedy occurred in Center changing the lives of a 15-year-old boy's family for over half a century. Fifty-four years later, James Thorn, who was 13 years old at the time, is on a mission in search of those responsible for the death of his brother, Charles Thorn, on August 9, 1960.
Shelby County Sheriff's Investigator Christopher King is now investigating the cold case and is helping Thorn in his search for what happened to his brother on that day. No investigative file exists as when law enforcement files get to a certain age they are destroyed. Investigator King has searched for any documentation explaining the circumstances that occurred; however, the only traces that remain are a newspaper article written on August 11, 1960, a death certificate and the funeral home hand-out.
Thorn accepts that files are destroyed once they reach a certain age, but that there is no written explanation anywhere leaves him extremely suspicious of the situation. "I suspect there was a cover-up, I suspect the law enforcement was either trying to protect somebody at that time, or my brother walked in on something he saw and potentially, whatever it was, he was stripped and murdered."
James Thorn decided that he would wait until his mother, Maxilene Thorn, had passed on before he would begin the inquiry into his brother's death as it was such a traumatic situation for his family. That is when he contacted the Sheriff's Department.
Thorn described the house where the incident occurred as a house that had a great deal of traffic, from children to adults, the house was playground to children and speakeasy at times to adults as well as rest area for transients. The house was located at the end of Pine Street at the intersection of Terry Street, was known as the Jack Brady home and at the time of the incident was owned by then Sheriff candidate Grady Jarratt.
"I was out on a birthday party, came home on August the 9th, approximately 4:15pm I would imagine, and that's a guess on my part. My mother told me to go get my brother, 'he's down at the old house playing with some friends,'" recalls Thorn. Although he does remember searching through the house for his brother and running home, part of what Thorn recalls at this time is a blur as he doesn't remember everything he saw when he arrived at the house that traumatic day. "I ran back to my house and my mother, I remember her standing sort of in front of the refrigerator, I remember her face, but I can't remember anything else. Dad comes walking down the hall and she told him to go find Charles down at the old house."
Thorn described his father, Travis Thorn, going to the house and locating Charles' body in front of the house, next to the porch, "Charles, according to all statements was found nude and a quote at that time 'his clothes were neatly folded beside his body.' Well it wasn't, because my father had brought them back with him. My mother was crying in his clothes, screaming and so-forth."
The second person to arrive at the scene was Ted Adams who worked with Mangum Funeral Home, and who also happened to be Thorn's first cousin. According to Thorn, Adams described his brother's body and the ligature that was around Charles' neck. This ligature has been described as having been cheese cloth torn from the walls of the house and rolled into an improvised rope. Thorn says that he has heard different accounts of his brother's death such as his brother hung himself, he was hung from a room in the house, he was hung from a tree, "he was in some bushes that has some limbs [about the size of a man's finger]," explained Thorn.
According to Thorn, Sheriff Charlie Christian arrived at his family's house a couple of days following his brother's death. Thorn listened through the wall as Sheriff Christian spoke to his parents and surmised what happened by indicating Charles Thorn hung himself accidentally, was nude and that his neck or back was broken, "Could his neck have been broken? I don't know, but I want to know how the Sheriff knew that."
Investigator King is convinced not everything adds up and is alarmed by indications that Thorn's death may have been more than an accident, "The one thing that really stands out to me is the disrobing. That is consistent with trying to humiliate someone, it's a very personal thing. If he had walked in on say bootleggers why would they go so far as to disrobe him? That's just really odd to me," said Investigator King. "The porch on the front of the residence, which is no longer standing, from what I understand it had a bannister and he was found midway along the porch on the ground, so that means he had to come over the bannister."
Thorn says that Adams related to him what was done when law enforcement arrived at the scene as he was there the entire time. He said they looked around the scene a little bit, no fingerprints were taken and no real investigating was performed. No medical examiner, doctor, or investigator was ever called to the scene. Beyond that, Adams stated to Thorn that no medical examination or doctor was ever at the funeral home either previous to Thorn's preparation for burial.
"Charles walked in on something, now what that was I don't know, but why was he nude? Was he sexually molested? Was he sexually molested and then strangled? Something happened that's out of the norm and it stinks," said Thorn as he continued to question why there was no medical examiner or doctor and why the police didn't do more than they did.
Thorn remarked that Sheriff Willis Blackwell and Investigator King have been "unbelievably cooperative" in helping him to learn the circumstances of the investigation of his brother's death.
A reward has been offered for any information leading to the identification and/or conviction of the parties responsible. Anyone with information is asked to contact Investigator Christopher King at the Shelby County Sheriff's Office by calling 936-598-5600.
AUSTIN – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton today issued the following statement regarding the State’s oral argument before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in support of House Bill 2.
“Texas lawmakers passed House Bill 2 to protect women’s health and the unborn. The Bill’s requirements that abortion practitioners have hospital admitting privileges and that abortion clinics meet the standards of ambulatory surgical centers are not only constitutional but common sense. Courts shouldn’t take the Texas Legislature’s decision to protect women’s health out of the hands of Texas citizens and their duly elected representatives.”
Notice is hereby given that a Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Tenaha Independent School District will be held on Monday, January 12, 2015 beginning at 5:30 p. m. in the Boardroom of the Administration office located at 138 College Street, Tenaha, Texas 75974.
The Subjects to be discussed or considered, or upon which any formal action may be taken are as follows:
(Items do not have to be taken in the same order as shown on the meeting notice.)
1. Call to Order
2. Public Comment
3. Reports from the Administration
(a.) Judy Monroe, 6-12 Principal
(b.) Terry Ward, EE-5 Principal
(c.) Scott Tyner, Superintendent
4. Consider for Approval Minutes of Previous Meeting(s)
5. Consider for Approval the 2014-2015 Migrant Education Program
6. Consider for Approval the Quarterly Investment Report
7. Public Reading of Board Member Training Hours
8. Call School Board of Trustee Election for May 09, 2015 to Fill 3 Regular 3 Year Term Positions
(a.) Appoint Election Judge, Alternate Election Judge, Early Voting Clerk, and Alternate Early Voting Clerks
(b.) Set Time and Location for the Election, including Dates and Location Times for Early Voting
(c.) Set Date, Time, and Location of Day to Draw for Positions on the Ballot for the Election
(d.) Set Date, Time, and Location to Canvass Results of the Election
9. Consider for Approval Policy Update 101 Affecting Policies:
BE—Board meetings
CH—Purchasing and acquisition
DGBA—Employee complaints/grievances
EB—School year
EIAB—Makeup work
FFG—Child abuse and neglect
FMG—Student travel
FNCC—Prohibited organization and hazing
FNG—Student and parent complaints/grievances
GF—Public complaints
10. District Employees and Officers
(a.) Employment, Resignations, New Hire, and/or Discipline
11. Comments by Board Members
12. Adjournment
If, during the course of the meeting, discussion of any item on the agenda should be held in a closed meeting, the board will conduct a closed meeting in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Gov’t Code, Chapter 551, Subchapters D and E.
This notice posted at 10:30 a.m. January 09, 2015.
Notice is hereby given that a Regular meeting of the Governing Body of the Shelby County Commissioners’ Court will be held on the 12th day of January, 2015 at 9:30 a.m. in the Courtroom of the Shelby County Courthouse at 200 San Augustine Street, Center, Shelby County, Texas to deliberate and consider action on the following items:
1. Approve the minutes of the December 8th, 2014 Regular Meeting and the December 22nd, 2014 Special Meeting of the Shelby County Commissioners’ Court.
2. Approve Officers’ Reports.
3. County Treasurer to address the court to explain new reporting layout.
4. Approve and pay monthly expenses.
5. Public announcement regarding City of Center Electronics Recycling Day scheduled for Saturday, January 24th.
6. Approve Commissioner Rodgers to sell an FG85 maintainer to be sold “as-is”.
7. Discuss the oversight and staffing of the County’s Indigent Health Care Program.
8. Discuss and possibly take action on adjusting ambulance subsidy to come out of Indigent Health Care fund instead of Contingency fund and credit the Contingency fund back for one month payment.
9. Adjourn.
LUFKIN, Texas – Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) crews are getting ready for icy weather conditions forecast for the local area this weekend. Crews have already started pre-treating U.S. 59 and a few other locations in anticipation of the winter storm.
According to TxDOT, maintenance crews in the Lufkin District’s nine county area (Angelina, Houston, Nacogdoches, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby and Trinity counties) have outfitted dump trucks and pickup trucks with necessary equipment and materials for response to emergency situations as weather conditions change. Crews will continue to pre-treat some roadways Friday including Loop 287 in Lufkin and Loop 224 in Nacogdoches and will report to work when conditions warrant during the weekend. Efforts include inspecting highly exposed areas that are susceptible to wind and ice such as bridges, ramps and overpasses. De-icing materials and rock will be placed over those areas as needed to improve travel.
“Crews are prepared but if conditions get so bad that it makes driving hazardous the best and safest thing to do is to stay off the roads,” said Kathi White, TxDOT spokesperson. “If you absolutely must drive, slow down and use extra precautions especially on elevated surfaces.”
The number of Texas motor vehicle traffic crashes totaled 111,238 during the winter months (Dec. 2013, Jan. 2014, and Feb. 2014). These crashes resulted in 793 fatalities and almost 20,000 injuries (incapacitating and non-incapacitating). TxDOT offers these tips to help minimize potential hazards if you must drive:
• Be extra cautious on bridges, overpasses, ramps, turns and shaded areas which tend to freeze first.
• Reduce speed and allow extra time to reach destinations.
• Increase the following distance between you and other vehicles.
• Stay back at least 200 feet from vehicles treating roadways
• If you start to slide, ease off the gas pedal or brakes and steer into the direction of skid.
• Remain in your vehicle
• Avoid unnecessary travel
Visit www.drivetexas.org or call 1-800-452-9292 for statewide road conditions. Listen to local weather broadcasts too.
For more information, contact Kathi White at kathi.white@txdot.gov or (936) 633-4395. Find out more at www.txdot.gov. “Like” us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/txdot and follow us on Twitter, www.twitter.com/txdot or www.twitter.com/TxDOTLufkin.
Information contained in this report represents reportable data collected from Texas Peace Officer's Crash Reports (CR-3) received and processed by the Department as of Dec. 8, 2014.
Drive Smart in Winter Weather
December 30, 2014 - According to a press release from the Shelby County Sheriff's Office, the family of a wanted suspect was arrested for Hindering Apprehension after investigators discovered the wanted individual hiding in a large pile of laundry.
Sheriff Willis Blackwell reports on Monday, December 29, 2014 Shelby County Sheriff's Department Investigator D.J. Dickerson traveled to the residence of a Taunua Amburn located on County Road 4624 in Tenaha, Texas to execute a felony warrant service on a Dustin Bryan Estes, 27, of Tenaha.
Shelby County deputies had been to the aforementioned residence on a prior occasion in an attempt to serve said felony warrant. While at the residence, Investigator Dickerson was advised by occupants that Dustin Estes was not within the residence; however, Dustin Estes' mother Taunua Amburn gave consent to search the residence.
Investigator Dickerson asked occupants of the residence if Dustin Estes was within the residence and advised that Dustin had a warrant, to which due to the prior occasion of deputies attempting to serve the felony warrant, they were readily aware.
Investigator Dickerson also advised the occupants that if Dustin Estes was located within the residence they would be arrested and charged for Hindering Apprehension. Investigator Dickerson was told Dustin had not been there and had not been seen for about a month now and was supposedly staying in Louisiana.
During a search of the residence, Investigator Dickerson located Dustin Estes in a back bedroom hiding underneath a large pile of clothes. Dustin Estes was placed into custody for a warrant of Burglary of a Building, State Jail Felony and a Rusk County warrant for bond surrender.
The occupants of the residence were also placed into custody and charged for Hindering Apprehension/Prosecution, Felony 3. The occupants were identified as Taunua Renee Amburn, age 45; Linda Ann Parent, age 24; Taylor Kathleen Hodges, age 19; Austin Bryan Estes, age 24; and Dakota Lee Amburn, age 18, all of Tenaha.
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Emergency crews were dispatched to a two-vehicle crash involving a fatality at the intersection of Loop 500 and U.S. Highway 96 South in front of the new Nacogdoches Medical Center emergency room on Tuesday, December 30, 2014.Patrick Beard, 59, of Sourlake was traveling northbound in a blue Toyota Highlander on U.S. 96 just before 5:15am when, according to eyewitness statements, he ran the red light and entered the intersection with Loop 500 and collided with the trailer of a 2000 Mack truck-tractor live haul chicken truck traveling eastbound and driven by Darious Hill, 39, of Nacogdoches.
The collision caused major damage to the front of the Highlander. The truck tractor received minor damage to the trailer and it came to a stop just past the crash scene.
Center Police officers and ACE EMS arrived at the scene and discovered Beard was dead at the wheel of the Highlander. Maxie Eaves, Justice of the Peace Precinct 1, was called to the scene and he pronounced Beard deceased at the scene. The Center Fire Department used jaws of life to help extricate Beard from the vehicle.Watson and Sons Funeral Home transported Beard from the scene. Center Police Officer Jake Gross investigated the crash assisted by Officer Jeremy Konderla, Sgt. Duane Gordon and Officer Bobby Walker.
The crash remains under investigation.
A 28-year-old Jasper, Texas man has pleaded guilty to federal drug violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.
Shane Dwayne Hadnot pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith F. Giblin.
According to information presented in court, on Nov. 7, 2013, Alfred Wright, of Jasper, Texas, was reported missing by his family after his truck broke down in rural Sabine County, Texas. Articles of Wright’s clothing were found on private land, approximately a mile from where Wright was last seen. After searchers initially failed to locate Wright, his body was found on Nov. 25, 2013 in brush near where his clothing had been found. An investigation into the cause of Wright’s disappearance and death revealed his involvement with Shane Hadnot. Phone records, witness statements, and drug evidence located during the search of Shane Hadnot’s car, indicated that Hadnot was selling cocaine to Alfred Wright.
During the two-day period before Wright’s death, Hadnot and Wright exchanged 20 text messages. The indictment alleges that on Nov. 7, 2013, Wright sent a text message to Hadnot at 12:36 pm requesting to purchase cocaine and other illegal narcotics from Hadnot. Wright went missing approximately five hours later. An autopsy was performed on Wright’s body and toxicology testing revealed that Wright’s blood contained cocaine, methamphetamine and Xanax. The final autopsy report, and other experts in the fields of pathology, toxicology, and anthropology concluded that Wright’s cause of death was an accident due to combined drug intoxication. Hadnot was indicted by a federal grand jury on Aug. 6, 2014 and charged with drug trafficking violations.
“Today’s guilty plea signals that this investigation has reached a significant point of closure,” said U.S. Attorney Bales. “Shane Hadnot is being held accountable for his criminality and the associated factual context for Hadnot’s plea provides the truth for why Alfred Wright lost his life in the Sabine County woods. Of course, today’s court activity will provide little solace for Mr. Wright’s family who lost a husband, father, brother and son. Can anyone doubt that the distribution and use of illegal narcotics is a cancer in American society? On behalf of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Texas Rangers, DEA and FBI, I again express our sorrow and our condolences to those who loved Alfred Wright. I also want to commend the Rangers, the agents and the officers who worked countless hours to determine what happened and who should be held accountable – they have done their duty and I am honored to be associated with this team.”
Hadnot faces up to 20 years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.
This case is being investigated by the Texas Rangers, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brit Featherston and John B. Ross.
 Larry Bruce Hendricks  Derek Wayne Hendricks  Larry Gene Barrett Jr.  Charles Seth Alexander |
Sheriff Willis Blackwell reports that the Shelby County Sheriff's Department Investigators Kevin W. Windham, DJ Dickerson and Christopher King along with Shelby County Pct. 5, Constable Stanley Burgay assisted by Chief Kent Graham have been investigating several thefts and burglaries that were reported in the Timpson area.
During the course of the investigations, property was recovered in Timpson, Texas being a total recovered value at approximately $50,000. It was found that suspects involved in the several cases of theft and burglaries were a Larry Hendricks, 51, of Timpson (arrested on December 9); Derek Hendricks, 17, of Timpson (arrested on December 9); Charles Seth Alexander, 26, of Timpson (arrested on December 11); and Larry Barrett, 23, of Garrison (arrested on December 11). The subjects received several charges of Theft >= $1500<20k, State Jail Felony.
The majority of the property was recovered on Rose Hill Road in Timpson. We have multiple locations for the original thefts in which we are still attempting to recover property.
The investigation and recovery of additional stolen property continues along with possible additional involved suspects with more charges to be filed.
The Shelby County Sheriff's Office states that due to the large number of items that has been stolen if anyone has purchased any kind property from these individuals it may be stolen. Please contact our office at 936-598-5600 immediately. No charges will be filed on any person for returning stolen property pertaining to this case in a timely manner.
Photo: Charles Seth Alexander (left) is seen above on December 11, 2014 being escorted into the Shelby County Jail by Deputy Sgt. Derek Barbee (middle) and Timpson Police Officer Michael Williams (right).
Shelby County Sheriff's Deputies arrested a man on drug charges after he reportedly drove a truck into a house on Sunday.
According to the press release, Sheriff Willis Blackwell states that on December 14, 2014 at approximately 1:26am Sheriff’s Deputies Cody Muse and Michael Griffin responded to a call at 20495 FM 139 in the Shelbyville area in regards to a vehicle that had run into a house.
Deputies arrived on scene and observed a white Chevrolet pickup sitting in the kitchen area of the residence. Deputies identified the driver as Craig Crocker, 26, of Center who was still in the driver’s seat passed out.
While Deputies conducted an inventory of the vehicle, a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana and a white crystal like substance believed to be methamphetamine was found inside Crocker’s vehicle. Crocker was arrested and booked into the Shelby County Jail for possession of marijuana, misdemeanor B and possession of controlled substance, felony 3.
Crocker was arraigned by JP1 Maxie Eaves and has a $3000 bond for Possession of Marijuana and $4,000 bond for possession of controlled substance.
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