Body found in northeast Houston believed to be that of missing woman

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The search for a missing woman ends tragically in northeast Houston.

Texas EquuSearch volunteers found a body believed to be 48-year-old Norma Jean Scott. The mother and grandmother was last seen Thursday.

The body was discovered around 6pm near Scott's home. It has not yet been identified but we do know it is that of a naked African American female.

Ruby Lee is the kind of woman who helps her neighbors when she can, and as a mother of six, Scott was often a recipient. So when the longtime Fifth Ward resident heard about the 48-year-old's disappearance, she headed to Scott's house only to find worse news: A body had just been found in an overgrown alley just a block from Scott's house.

"Sad, I just couldn't believe it," Lee said.

All day long Scott's children showed her picture to passing motorists and made pleas for help.

"I just miss my momma. She would always console us, and we don't have her to console us right now. We just need her," Soctt's daughter, Katherine Oparah said.

They hadn't seen or heard from her since last Thursday when a neighbor saw a man forcibly take her from her home. They recognized him as a boyfriend.

"She wouldn't up and leave like that," Soctt's daughter, Bridgette Scott, said.

While we were talking to Scott's family, Texas EquuSearch volunteers were aboard ATVs riding the neighborhood.

Just a few hours after they had been called to help, the searchers made a discovery. The body, they tell us, that matches Scott's description.

Her children distraught by the news could only watch as crime scene investigators worked past dusk, not far from where Scott was last seen.

"I'm going to be suspending the search until we know different," EquuSearch's Frank Wilson said. "I think the medical examiner's office will know fairly quick."

An ID likely will come Tuesday from the medical examiner's office.

We do know Scott's boyfriend voluntarily went to a police substation, where he is being questioned.

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

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Chemical spill closes mile-long portion of Tidwell in northeast Houston for hours

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A chemical spill closed about a mile-long portion of Tidwell in northeast Houston for hours on Thursday.

The eastbound lanes of Tidwell Rd. between the Eastex Freeway and Lockwood were shut down due to a chemical spill.

According to the Houston Fire Department, it appeared to be some type of used oil product from a tanker truck. HFD responded to the report of a chemical spill in the 4100 block of Tidwell about 2:20pm Thursday.

HFD says hazardous material crews and Public Works and Engineering were on scene to assist with the clean-up, and the road is now back open.

Check real-time traffic information in our ABC13.com traffic section

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Couple dies in northeast Houston house fire

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A couple was killed in a tragic fire in northeast Houston. We are learning more about the victims as investigators try to determine the cause of the fire.

The fire broke out at the home on Kenton near Bacher just before 5am. Fire investigators were on the scene for hours trying to find out what caused the deadly blaze in the Settagast neighborhood. It took the lives of two people, one of them identified by family as Dorothy Moore, grandmother to Joseph Moore.

"She liked to cook and be with her family, play with her little grandkids," Joseph said.

He is at a genuine loss, and can't even speculate as to what caused this fire. The Houston Fire Department won't say much either, wanting to do a thorough investigation into the cause of the fire and cause of death for the individuals. The second victim has been identified by neighbors and family as Eddie Manuel.

"He was a nice person, do odds and ends around the neighborhood, cut yards and stuff. A real nice person," said neighbor Kareen Brooks.

When firefighters arrived at the home in the early hours of this morning, they faced a difficult task. There were heavy flames with portions of the home boarded up, a lot of possessions piled up and a live power line on the property, all making a rescue attempt nearly impossible until they could beat back the flames.

The two victims were found in the back of the house. It seems they were trying to escape the fire.

"We have to make a document of where the bodies were found -- what was the probable cause," said HFD District Chief Rick Flanagan. "There are so many intricate pieces we have to put together in the investigation."

That's all HFD is saying for now, but Joseph Moore knows enough to know this just isn't right.

"Natural causes I can understand, but this, no," he said.

Arson investigators are on the scene. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Man shot during fight in northeast Houston

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A man is in stable condition after being shot by his own gun during a fight.

It happened overnight on Cherry at Glasgow in northeast Houston. Houston police say two men got into a fight in the street.

The victim went to grab his gun, when the other man tried to wrestle it away from him. The gun went off many times before a bullet struck the victim once in the abdomen. He ran to a Houston fire station where he was transported to Ben Taub Hospital.

Police are still investigating the incident.

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Most wanted fugitive caught in northeast Houston

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A Houston sex offender on the state's most wanted fugitives list was arrested in northeast Houston.

Timothy Rosales, 40, has been wanted since January, when he allegedly cut off his electronic monitoring device and fled from a Houston halfway house, according to a Harris County Precinct 6 statement. He had been staying at the halfway home since his 2007 release from prison for two aggravated sexual convictions. Rosales, who had spent 25 years in confinement, was considered armed and dangerous. He was arrested in the 7900 block of Tampico Street. He currently faces a felony charge of violating civil commitment and a parole violation charge. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) 

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House goes up in smoke in northeast Houston

   HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Firefighters had some trouble putting out a large fire on the northeast side.

They found flames shooting from a one story home on Muskegon near Apgar around 12:45am. The roof on the home was already caving in so firefighters pulled out and went into a defensive mode. Eventually, they put out the flames but the home is a total loss.

No one was at home when the fire began. Arson investigators are now looking into it.

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

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