Jewelry may help ID burned victim found on rural property

FULSHEAR, TX (KTRK) -- Police in Fulshear are searching for answers after a woman's burned body was discovered in a rural area on Monday.

Fulshear police are still trying to identify the remains. They say the woman is in her 20s to 30s and was about 5' to 5'2" tall. But the victim is burned so badly they cannot tell her race.

On a gravel road just off Katy-Fulshear Road is a spot of scarred ground where it appears something burned. Fulshear police say a ranch hand discovered a badly burned body there on Monday morning.

It's a rural area where the only residents immediately nearby are cattle. It's a well-traveled road during the day. People driving along the dirt road there say this shakes their sense of safety.

"It's such a remote area," said neighbor Michelle Thompson. "You think this area of Houston is safe out here."

Investigators say it's not clear how long the body had been there. It appears it was burned at the location. There are no missing women in Fulshear and none in Fort Bend County. Detectives are working with other agencies to see if any evidence might link to any of their missing persons cases.

The victim found in the field was wearing something which investigators hope might be the key to figuring out her identity.

Fulshear Police Chief Kenny Seymour said, "We're working on a piece of jewelry that the victim had on that might be distinctive and might stick out in somebody's mind."

One other distinctive feature they say is that the woman had extensive dental work. Investigators say she had a number of veneers. She was wearing jeans with a red top and a belt with several metal rivet designs.

Based on the autopsy, officials believe her cause of death was possibly blunt trauma to the body and possibly strangulation.

If you have any information which can help detectives figure out who the woman is, you can contact the Fulshear Police Department at 281-346-2202, the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office at 281-341-4665 or Crime Stoppers at 281-342-TIPS.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Victim may take stand in ex-officer rape trial

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- It could be an emotional day of testimony in the rape trial of a former Houston police officer. The waitress who claims that ex-cop raped her may take the stand today.

The defense in this rape case claims the sex was consensual but the prosecution claims otherwise, saying the Houston Police Department had a rapist on the payroll.

In opening statements yesterday, each side outlined their cases. The prosecution said former HPD Officer Abraham Joseph picked up the victim at a cantina where she worked as a waitress, along with a man, but dropped the man off and took her to a park where he raped her.

She went home where she was staying with her aunt and aunt's husband and they testified in court she came home crying, telling them what happened.

"Still handcuffed, he's in full uniform, badge, gun at his hip, never takes his uniform off. He rapes her," said prosecutor Heyward Carter.

"But what Mr. Joseph -- and what you will learn from the evidence in this case -- did not do is anything that wasn't by agreement," said Defense attorney Nicole Deborde.

If he's found guilty, Joseph faces anywhere from five years to life in prison.

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One killed when gunfire erupts at vigil for shooting victim

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A vigil held for a shooting victim ended with the death of one of the mourners.

It happened around 9pm on La Salette near Yosemite. Police say the people had gathered for a candlelight vigil for another person killed in the area when gunfire erupted.

"We believe there was about 300 people gathered for a vigil for a shooting victim from Tuesday on Alice," said Matthew Brady with the Houston Police Department Homicide Division. "Evidently some kind of altercation erupted in the middle of the street and one black male was shot."

The man died on the way to the hospital. No word yet on a possible suspect.

Police say a nearby home did have surveillance cameras so they will check to see if they captured the shooting scene.

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Victim identified in fatal shooting at rave party at southeast Houston house

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The victim killed at a rave at a house in southeast Houston has been identified. He was just 18 years old and about to graduate from high school.

The family of Ryan Spikes of Cypress told Eyewitness News they are just devastated right now and they want some answers. They tell us they want to know who shot the teen and left him to die on the street.

"We're not taking it good at all; not good at all. This is heartbreaking," said Tiffany Spikes, the victim's sister.

Tiffany's 18-year-old brother, Ryan, was killed early Wednesday morning. The Cypress Springs High School senior and athlete was shot outside a huge rave-style party at a vacant house in the 4400 block of Allison. The gunman is still on the run.

"We just hope in Jesus' name that somebody will come forward and just be truthful about it. If it's hindering their heart, come forth or turn themselves in, or if anybody know anything, call TIPS," Tiffany said.

We've learned between 300 and 600 teenagers and Spring Breakers attended the chaotic party which was highly advertised across social media sites. Houston police say officers responded to the scene after reports of loud noise. As police and security tried breaking up the huge crowd, police say they heard gunshots. Ryan's family told us he had no enemies.

"Lord Jesus, my brother was humble. He barely spoke or talk. He was never was in no mess, never fought," said Tiffany.

Witnesses say several people were shooting. Police say they tried chasing down one gunman, but he got away. Now Tiffany and her family are pleading for answers.

We checked with Houston police. They told us detectives are still interviewing witnesses. For now, police and Ryan's family are encouraging anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

In light of the shooting, there will be a community meeting on Monday night. It will be held at the Cullen Missionary Baptist Church at 6:30pm. Councilwoman Wanda Adams will be there along with Houston Police Chief Charles McClelland. The goal of the meeting is to talk about ways to prevent something like this from happening again in the community.

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Alleged victim protests ex-cop's plea deal

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Community activists are lashing out at the Harris County District Attorneys Office, alleging it was unfairly lenient in prosecuting a former police officer.

The allegation from community activists is that a former Houston police officer who pled guilty to theft was offered a better deal than someone facing a much less serious crime. They want to know why, and so does a man who says he was ripped off by that police officer.

Karim Saleem says he was minding his own business last May when Houston police officer Stefan Riha pulled him over.

"He pulled me over and took the money I just got from the mechanic," Saleem said.

After a few minutes in the back of the patrol car, the officer let Saleem go. That's when Saleem realized the $800 in cash he had in the car was gone.

He went to police who then conducted a sting operation and arrested Riha after he stole cash from an undercover officer posing as a motorist.

For pleading guilty, Riha received two years probation. He'll have to pay a $500 fine and do community service.

"Which is very unjust and unfair to me because had it not been for my testimony, he probably would still be out on the street robbing people to this day," Saleem said.

Saleem is upset because Riha was never prosecuted for allegedly stealing from him. The DA's office says they didn't have enough evidence to prove his claim. Community activists also say the punishment offered to Riha was far more lenient than that offered to some who have been charged with lesser crimes.

"We as a community are livid. This is very, very disturbing," activist Derric Muhammad said.

Muhammad says he watched a case just last week in court where Christopher Latson was accused of failing to identify himself to a police officer.

He was ultimately acquitted of that charge, but Muhammad says Latson was never offered any deal as lenient as Riha, even though Latson's case was a misdemeanor and Riha's was a felony.

Muhammad wonders if race or politics played a role.

"Why is it that a Houston police officer can get off with such a light sentence?" he asks.

The DA's office refused to answer questions for this story. They instead issued us a statement, in part telling us that prosecutors make offers and negotiate plea bargains based on a number of factors, including the facts of the case and a defendant's criminal history.

Steve Morris, chief of the governmental integrity bureau, said in a statement, "pursuant to our duty to see that justice is done, we do not consider or take into account a suspect's race, ethnicity, or gender in deciding on an appropriate sentence."

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Suspects jump victim on Rice Univ. jogging path

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A warning has been sent out following an attempted robbery on the campus of Rice University.

Rice University police say a strong-armed robbery was attempted early Tuesday on the gravel path between Entrance 5 on Main Street and Wiess College. Around 5:30am a consultant for the university was approached by two males after they jumped out from behind some bushes.

One of the men reached for the consultant's backpack, and the victim struck him with his computer case. The two men then fled toward Main Street.

The consultant was not harmed and none of his belongings was stolen. The victim described one of the suspects as a slender black male in his late 20s with a hoodie and glasses. He said the other was a slender Middle Eastern male, also in his late 20s with a ball cap worn backwards. The victim reported the incident to the Rice University Police Department at 8:30am.

If you have any information about this attempted crime or similar incidents, you're asked to contact Rice University police at 713-348-6000. Officers advise everyone to be aware of their surroundings and avoid walking alone after dark. If you see any suspicious behavior, you're asked to contact RUPD as soon as possible by telephone or via one of the blue emergency light telephones on campus.

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Olympics hopeful victim of alleged attempted carjacking

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A runner who just arrived in Houston to try out for the Olympics and his wife may have just become the victim of an attempted carjacking.

This all happened Wednesday evening at Bush Intercontinental Airport.

The course is all set for Saturday, and a lot of those elite runners are arriving, but it wasn't a warm welcome for one of them and his family.

Josh Cox and his wife Carrie and their 10-month-old son had just arrived in Houston when they say they became victims of an attempted carjacking.

As they were driving away in their rental car, the couple says a man approached them. Josh says his wife was driving and he was navigating.

"The entire time he was walking up to the car. He had his hand in his jacket and I said no, no, no, go, go, go and then she just punched it and we went through, went across the road," Josh said. "We thought it was done but then the guy came up in his car and was waving his arms and turned on his light inside and he was waving something. It looked like a badge or something but we don't know what it was."

"That gentleman had his hands in his pocket far too long with a big puffy jacket. We had no idea what he was going to pull out," Carrie said.

"We have no idea what his intentions were but we weren't going to hang around and find out," Josh said. "We have a lot of people praying for this trip. I'm here for the Olympics tryouts this Saturday and God was looking out for us, kept us safe and just happy to make it out unscathed."

Carrie's father is a retired law enforcement officer. He told them they did exactly what they were supposed to do. They were on the phone with 911 for about seven minutes.

Josh says the experience was quite an adrenaline rush and now he's going to have a good story to share, but he says he remains very focused on Saturday and he's hoping to qualify for the London Olympics.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Moms of auto-ped victim, DWI suspect are friends

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A driver now faces charges for a crash that killed a man in scooter. The victim died while trying to save his girlfriend's son, who was sitting in his lap.

Just 24 hours after Clifford Johnson, 56, was hit and killed while riding his motorized scooter, police have charged the driver of the SUV that hit him. And in a strange twist, the mother of the accused is friends with the mother of the victim.

Wilmer Farley III has yet to be transferred here to the Harris County Jail from the city jail. He is charged with intoxication manslaughter. Police tell us their investigation determined that Farley, 20, was intoxicated when officers arrested him at the scene.

The accident happened near the 9300 block of west Montgomery in Acres Homes. Johnson had his one-year-old son in his lap and was thrown more than 20 feet after he was hit. He likely saved the child's life.

Johnson was on his scooter and maneuvered into the street to avoid mud and water that was blocking his path. The debris on the sidewalk was the result of what the city's public's work department is calling a minor leak on a major water line that services the neighborhood.

Johnson's mother's told us as heartbroken as she is over the loss of her only son, she forgives Farley.

"I know he didn't mean to kill my son, but you can't drive around under the influence of alcohol. You can't operate a vehicle like that," Rowana Hubbard said. "He's a young man. He's 20. Of course I forgive him. The Bible says if I don't, I can't get into heaven. I intend to go where my son is."

And Farley's mother has heard it first hand. Over the phone she said she called Hubbard because she has known her for years.

"I feel awful. I'm just devastated. I'm devastated what happened to her son," she told us.

But she says her son, Farley, was not intoxicated.

"They always take a long time; they put stuff off, and this is not the first time," resident Nita Ellis said.

People are also blaming the city. Workers were out fixing the water main leak that Johnson was apparently trying to avoid when he drove into the road and was hit. The city of Houston's Public Works Department has been aware of the problem since December 21. They called it a minor leak and said the holidays delayed repair.

Little comfort for Hubbard.

"My son had to lose his life because of it," she said.

Crews with the city's public works department are fixing that leak on West Montgomery.

When asked whether the city had any role in Johnson's death, a spokesperson said "to go that route is a bit premature," and that's all "speculative."

Farley's bond has been set at $50,000. He has yet to make a first court appearance.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Suspects ask for victim by name in deadly SW Houston shooting

The shooting happened at the Braes Court Apartment in the 88000 block of South Braeswood near Bissonnet around 8pm.

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Police say two murder suspects asked for their victim by name last night in southwest Houston before killing him.

The shooting happened at the Braes Court Apartment in the 88000 block of South Braeswood near Bissonnet around 8pm. Detectives say a woman heard a knock at the door and opened it. Two men asked for her husband by name and made their way in. Moments later, the woman heard gunshots and then discovered her husband lying on the floor with a gunshot wound to the chest.

The 28-year-old victim was pronounced dead at the scene. His identity is pending verification by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.

The two suspects fled the scene on foot. They are described only as black males with stocky builds, dressed in black clothing, who may have had their faces covered as they fled. One suspect may have also been carrying a backpack.

It is not yet clear what the motive was for the shooting.

Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Victim jumps from window trying to flee killers

The victim tried to escape by jumping out a second story window, but the suspects shot and killed him as he lay on the ground

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Police were called to a shooting at an apartment on Broadway at Morley in southeast Houston.

Police say officers responded to a shooting call in the 8700 block of Broadway and found the victim lying below a broken window of an apartment. A tenant of the apartment told police the victim arrived at his apartment and was visting with him when several unknown male suspects came to his door and attempted to force their way inside by kicking the door.

The suspects then began shooting through the closed door. The victim then attempted to get away by jumping through a second floor window and was struck by gunfire. He died at the scene.

The suspects fled the scene without entering the apartment.

Police don't have a motive for the shooting, but they say it appears the victim was targeted.

The identitiy of the victim is pending verification by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.

Anyone with information in this case is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Family still seeking justice for fatal hit-and-run victim

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- All the members of one family have the same wish for the New Year and there's a chance you could help make it come true.

This family's tragic journey began last year near the intersection of Ella and Richey in north Harris County.

For the family of Mary Jackson, this was their first Christmas without her, and as the anniversary of her New Year's Eve death approaches, they pray 2012 will bring justice.

Jackson's family has missed her every day this year. but especially this Christmas weekend.

"She was ready to live and travel and enjoy her grand kids and that ended really early," her daughter, Rokeshia Holmes said. "Without parents, period -- but without your mother, it's definitely been a tough one. If it wasn't for our kids I felt like I could have just stayed buried under the covers the whole day."

Hundreds of cars pass by the site on Ella Road near Richey where she died last New Year's Eve.

Jackson was going to church services with her grandson Aundre Holmes, a tradition the family held every year. Then, another car veered into their lane and struck them head on. The 55-year-old mother of three and grandmother of 12 died.

Her grandson has a steel rod in his leg today.

"It was like a mother-son thing, I can't really describe how much I treasured her," Aundre Holmes said.

Police say that driver ran from the scene, even leaving his passenger who ended up in a coma for months.

"If that was anybody else, most likely they would have stayed there and helped somehow but he just left to cover his own hide -- just crazy," Aundre Holmes said.

As the first anniversary approaches, the family is waiting for an arrest. Investigators have worked many leads and interviewed the passenger, who owned the car, but no justice yet.

"They even left their passenger to die. That's not a friend, that's not somebody who cares, that's just somebody who is heartless. Do the right thing for once. I'm making a plea, I'm begging for you to turn yourself in," Jackson's other daughter, Tiffany Holmes said.

And as a new year approaches, the family prays answers will come in 2012.

"My hope is just to close this chapter in our life and get some justice. That's my greatest hope for this year," Rokeshia Holmes said.

The family will hold a candlelight vigil on New Year's Eve. If you have any information you are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477. You can remain anonymous and could claim up to a $5,000 reward.

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Body of drowning victim recovered in Galveston

  GALVESTON, TX (KTRK) -- The Galveston Island Beach Patrol recovered the body of a drowning victim, Faiz Almani, at approximately 2:15am Friday at 29th Street and Seawall.

The victim was pronounced dead by the Galveston County Medical Examiner.

Friends of the victim reported Almani was swimming with his friends at 45th and Seawall, when the group of four began to have difficulty swimming in the deep water. The group began heading towards shore.

A Galveston Island Beach Patrol Lifeguard noticed that the group was out farther in the water than the lifeguard was comfortable with and was proceeding to the group's location to bring them closer to shore. A witness on shore noticed the lifeguard, realized the group was in distress, and entered the water with a float to assist them.

Almani's friends were assisted to shore by the witness and lifeguard. The group informed the lifeguard that Almani was unaccounted for.

An active search for Almani was conducted for over two hours by members of the Galveston Island Beach Patrol with assistance of other members of the the Galveston Marine Response Team (Galveston Fire Department, Galveston EMS, Galveston Police Marine Division) along with US Coast Guard Helicopter and Rescue Craft.

The recovery search for Almani continued until nightfall by Galveston Island Beach Patrol

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Job seekers fall victim to scam artist

PASADENA, TX (KTRK) -- There's a warning about a man who police say has been preying on the jobless -- offering hope for a steady paycheck and then taking their money.

The scam artist told the victims they were hired. The victims didn't realize they'd been fooled until they showed up for work.

Pasadena police say more than a dozen people fell victim to what they are now calling a job scam. They say the job scheme started two weeks ago when a man who claimed to be a recruiter for Lyondell walked into a store in the Pasadena Town Square Mall and asked a woman if she wanted a refinery job. That woman gave us a picture from a security camera of the man she says claimed to be that recruiter.

The woman, who didn't want to be identified, says she did not need a job, but her husband did.

She said, "He gave me his number and I gave him my husband's number and they started talking afterward, and he basically said he was a supervisor of the plants."

According to the woman, the recruiter said her husband was hired but needed to wire $125 to cover the cost of a drug test and criminal background check. The suspect also asked for names of others who were looking for jobs.

Police say at least 18 other people wired money to the recruiter after also being promised a job at Lyondell.

The victim told Eyewitness News, "We went one morning and we talked to the security guard and no one knew who he was or anyone named like that in the company. So we got a supervisor and he came to talk to us and he did not know what we were talking about or anything."

When those new workers showed up at Lyondell, they say they found out the job offer was fake.

Det. Cesar Brosus with the Pasadena Police Department said, "We are aware of right now a total of 18 or so people who actually then contacted the suspect and told him they were interested in employment with Lyondell. He instructed them to wire money to a third person in order to pay for background checks and drug checks."

Now Pasadena Police are looking for a man known only as Alex. Authorities at the mall tell Eyewitness News they had no idea this was going on. They say they certainly wouldn't have given permission for anyone to walk around as a recruiter for a refinery or any other job.

A spokesperson for LyondellBasell issued the following statement: "All positions available at LyondellBasell are posted online and all job applicants must begin by applying on our website. We do not solicit employment in public locations such as a mall and we do not accept applications at our gate or offices.

No job applicant will ever be asked to pay a fee to apply for a position at LyondellBasell. All costs for new employees, including background checks and drug screens, are paid by the company."

We worked on this story with the help of the Pasadena Citizen, one of our Houston Community Newspaper partners.

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ID theft suspect bilks victim of nearly $12,000

 Detectives need help identifying this man, who is accused of stealing someone else's identity to withdraw nearly $12,000 from the victim's bank account.

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Detectives need help identifying a man who stole someone else's identity and forged paperwork to withdraw nearly $12,000 from the victim's bank account.

Around 2pm on December 21, the suspect entered a bank in the 5000 block of Fairmont Parkway using the identity of a 69-year-old man to make a withdrawal in the amount of $4,000, according to a Crime Stoppers press release. The suspect signed the victim's name, and after receiving the money, the suspect withdrew another $3,000. The suspect then returned the next morning and withdrew $4,700. After receiving the money, the suspect then tried to withdraw $20,000, but the teller told him that it'd take some time to get the money together. The suspect claimed he'd return the following day but never did. The teller contacted the account holder who advised her that he was out of the country and did not authorize anyone to make a withdrawal from his account. The suspect is now wanted for identity theft and forgery. He is described as a thin black male, in his late 40's to early 50's, about 5-foot-8 with short salt-and-pepper hair. The suspect was a wearing a brace on his right wrist. Surveillance video captured the suspect at the bank making the withdrawal. Anyone who recognizes the suspect is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477). (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) 

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Victim speaks out on cousin's shooting

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Houston police have arrested a man in the pre-dawn shooting death of an 11-year-old boy.

Gboweh Dickson George, 32, was taken into custody shortly after the shooting which began over what he claimed was the burglary of his car.

Jaleah Carter, the cousin of 11-year-old Rodney Palmer, told us George accused her of the burglary. Police questioned her about it and left. Minutes later she says George returned with a shotgun.

She says she and a friend ran into the family's apartment. Moments later the shots were fired into the apartment. Carter and a nine-year-old cousin were struck, even as she was trying to get the children in a back room.

Rodney Palmer was asleep on a living room couch, Carter said. He was awakened by the shooting and raised his head.

"I kept telling him to get down," she said. "He was a good kid who didn't deserve to die."

The family moved out of the apartment even as the suspect was booked into the county jail, all, Carter says, over mistaken identity.

Carter has shotgun pellets lodged in her arm and leg. Her nine-year-old cousin remains hospitalized with shrapnel wounds.

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)

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