DA's office still deciding about seeking death penalty against woman accused of killing new mom, kidnapping her baby

Verna DeAnn McClain allegedly kidnapped Keegan Schuchardt because she wanted to present him as her own baby following a miscarriage

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The Montgomery County District Attorney's office says it's still deciding if it will seek the death penalty against a woman accused of killing a new mother and kidnapping her newborn.

Verna McClain is accused of gunning down Kala Golden Schuchardt outside a pediatrician's office, then abducting her 3-day-old son back in April. Investigators believe McClain wanted to pass the baby off as her own.

The DA's office says it's going through all the evidence that's been gathered in this case and is almost ready to take it to the grand jury.

"At this point, we're convinced that she acted alone, that no other participants helped her out," said Assistant District Attorney Warren Diepraam.

The DA's office plans to decide on the death penalty issue in the next couple of weeks. They have 90 days to get the case to grand jury for consideration of an indictment.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Neighborhood seeking to stop speeders hits snag

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Neighbors in one southeast side subdivision say they've had it with speeders and they want drivers to slow down on their streets.

They say some drivers have lost control, tearing down the roads and damaging property. But their plans to get road humps on some of their streets has hit a snag.

It's happening off Glenloch near Bellfort in the historical neighborhood of Glenloch Valley. But along with all the history is coming a lot of traffic, with cars speeding up and down without anything to stop them.

There are two sides of Glenloch Drive, one with speed bumps that have been there for years, and on the other side of Bellfort, there's another that's speed-bump free. It has the speeding cars to prove it. And then there's the property damage.

"We looked out the window and saw our tree scattered all over the front lawn," homeowner Lorena Gomez said.

On Monday, the Gomez family lost driveway landscaping to a speeding car that overshot the curve in front of their home, but they've seen worse.

"Our neighbor next door got crashed in all the way into his living room," she said.

These are a few of the mishaps in the past year: In one a car ran into a house, taking out windows and brick siding. A $40,000 loss was reported at another house. And in the past couple of months, a car took out a city street light pole.

All happened on the same stretch of Glenloch. Speeding cars cut through traffic, homeowners believe, to an apartment complex at the end of the street.

The residents petitioned the city for speed bumps. They thought the problem was solved but things changed.

"They were telling us basically it was funding is everything that we've been told; everything we've understood was that it was basically related to funding," homeowner and realtor Robert Searcy said.

Funding is always a problem, but in this case, the city of Houston Public Works Department says it's because so many neighborhoods want speed bumps and Glenloch Drive is two years down the list.

"There are other communities in the city of Houston that are farther along in the process than this community is," Public Works spokesman Alvin Wright said.

That leaves Glenloch Drive and the Gomez family for now just as we found them, nervous about being in their front yard, even their home.

"You hear it all the time on the news that cars crash into people's houses while they're there and that's our number one concern," homeowner Andreas Gomez said.

The Gomez family is replacing the tree that was taken out on Monday, but they're also considering moving in some very large landscape to protect their yard and family.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Police seeking gunman in liquor store robbery

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Houston police are asking for the public's assistance in locating a suspect wanted and charged in an aggravated robbery and shooting of two men at 17539 Imperial Valley about 3pm on Saturday, January 14.

The suspect, David Leon Hamilton, 26, is charged with two counts of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon. Hamilton was last seen in the Imperial Valley and Greens Road area.

A 55-year-old male victim suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound and was transported to Ben Taub General Hospital. A second male, 62, also suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound and was transported to Memorial Hermann Northwest Hospital.

Police say on Saturday, Hamilton, wearing a gray hoodie and black shorts, entered the Greens Liquor Store and waited in line with multiple customers in front and behind him. As Hamilton got closer to the register, the clerk was completing a transaction and opened the register. Hamilton allegedly pulled a gun from his hoodie pocket, reached over the counter and began shooting at the two victims. Police say he then reached into the register drawer, took an undetermined amount of cash and the fled the scene.

David Leon Hamilton is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to contact the HPD Robbery Division at 713-308-0700 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

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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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