Lone Star Mystery Brandon Woodruff

Lone Star Mystery Discovery ID describes this episode as the crime rate in rural Royse City, TX is almost non-existent. So when quiet couple Dennis and Norma Woodruff is found murdered in their own home, it sends shock waves through town. As police investigate, it seems the killings...are a family affair. 

Dennis and Norma Woodruff, parents of Brandon Dale Woodruff, were murdered in their manufactured home in Royse City, Texas, on October 16, 2005.    Both Dennis and Norma died as a  result  of  gunshot  wounds  and  multiple  stab  wounds. Brandon  was  soon  arrested  for  their murders.   While  Brandon  was  in  jail  awaiting  trial,  the  Hunt  County  District  Attorney‘s  Office instructed the  Hunt County Sheriff‘s Office to record  Brandon‘s conversations with his attorneys and  provide  the district attorney‘s office  with  copies  of  the  recordings.    The  Texas  Attorney General‘s  Office  agreed  to  prosecute  the  case  after  the  Hunt  County District  Attorney‘s  Office recused.    Prior to trial, Brandon filed a motion to suppress a statement he had given to the police, which the trial court denied.    A jury found Brandon guilty of capital murder, and an automatic life sentence was assessed.

There is a petition to free Brandon, but no one has signed it.

Links

New documentary looks into 2005 Woodruff double murder case

You can write to  Brandon Woodruff  at:

Brandon Woodruff  1559439
Stiles Unit
3060 FM 3514
Beaumont, TX 77705  

Texas Terror Kevin Edison Smith

Texas Terror Discovery ID describes this episode as when thirteen-year-old Texas City girl Krystal Baker is found dead off the banks of the Galveston Bay, investigators round up a herd of suspects. But with little physical evidence on the scene, it takes a dedicated detective to solve this case.  

Kevin Edison Smith was convicted of Capital Murder in the state of Texas, which carries an automatic life sentence. He was arrested because his DNA was on file for a prior drug offense when cold case detectives opted to retest the dress Krystal had been wearing. He was spared the death penalty as he is suspected of other Texas murders of missing girls.

During the interview, appellant testified that he picked up a girl he believed to be named “Michelle” and, after she told him she was 18-years-old, he paid her for  sex.    “Michelle”  performed  oral  sex  on  him,  but  “freaked  out”  after  he ejaculated on her.  Appellant said that he pleaded with her to be quiet so that others at the gas station nearby would not hear.  When she would not comply, he began to choke  her  with  his  hands.    When  pressed  about  whether  he  used  a  ligature  rather than his hands, appellant admitted that he grabbed the strap to a bucket and choked her with that.  He “freaked out” when he realized that she was not breathing and began to drive.  He then dumped her body under the Trinity River Bridge



You can write to Kevin Edison Smith  at:

Kevin Edison Smith 1778693   
Connally Unit
899 FM 632
Kenedy, TX 78119

        

Last Call Eric Smith

Last Call Discovery ID describes this as in late 2007 Jasper, Texas native Martin Byerly disappears without a trace. Police look into the 58-year-old ladies man's dance card but can't seem to pin anything on a femme fatal. Then an unlikely tipster helps them learn what happened to Martin. 

Eric Wade Smith was convicted of Capital Murder which carries an automatic life in prison without the possibility of parole. Eric was a crack addict, met Byerly at a hotel for sex. He alleged that Martin sexually assaulted him, however there is no history of evidence of that.

Thereafter, appellant returned to Southwell with twenty dollarsand a request for Southwell to purchase drugs for him.   Southwell purchased the drugs as requested and delivered them to appellant‟s motel room.Appellant  returned to Southwell‟s room about thirty minutes  later  with  more  money  to purchase more drugs.    Southwell understood from appellant that Byerly had passed out in appellant‟s room.  While in Southwell‟s room, appellant and Southwell ingested drugs.  Southwell  did  not  see  appellant  again  that  night,  but testified  that  as  he was  leaving  for work  the  next  morning,  around  6:30  or  7  a.m.,  he  saw  Byerly.    Specifically  Southwell recalled that Byerly came to his room looking for his wallet.  Byerly went to appellant‟s room  and  asked  appellant  if  he  knew  where he  could  find  his  wallet.

You can write to Eric Smith at:

Eric Smith 1576154   
Allred Unit
2101 FM 369 North
Iowa Park, TX 76367

 

Deadly Disloyalty James David White

Deadly Disloyalty Discovery ID describes this Lonnie Turner Sr., is found shot dead in his home. As investigators dig into the case, they discover this brutal murder may be a family affair.   
episode as the residents of Navasota, Texas are horrified when one of the pillars of their community, 54 year-old

For a time, police suspected Lonnie's son Junior. Turns out James David White was the killer. He plead guilty to conspiracy to commit capital murder, and another 20 years for robbery with credit for time already served.


You can write to James David White at:


James D. White 1318044   
Joe Ney State Jail
114 Private Road 4303
Hondo, TX 78861-3812

The Truett Street Massacre Raul Cortez

Austin York

The Truett Street Massacre is described by ID as when Austin York, Matt Self, Mark Barbosa, and Rosa Barbosa are found dead in a McKinney, Texas home, detectives embark on a three year investigation. And just when it seems like the murders may never be solved, an eyewitness breaks the case wide open. Raul Cortez was convicted of four murders. He was sentenced to death for these crimes. This has become known as the McKinney Massacre.

The three set out for Rosa's house on foot. Javier and Williams took one route while Cortez took a separate route. Cortez carried the .38, the .25, plastic zip ties, latex gloves, duct tape, and masks in a black gym bag. Cortez was already at Rosa's house when Javier and Williams arrived. Javier and Cortez then started to put on the latex gloves and masks. Williams noticed that they also put on black gloves over the latex gloves. Cortez carried the .25, Javier had the .38., and Williams had the .380. Williams knocked on the door and, when Rosa answered, he asked her if she had seen his lost puppy. Cortez and Javier ran around Williams and pushed Rosa down inside the house. Williams observed that Rosa was handcuffed when Javier closed the door. Cortez and Javier then picked up Rosa, took her to her bedroom, and pushed her onto the bed. Rosa's head hit the bed, and she fell to the floor.

Matt Self

Cortez taped Rosa's hands behind her back and removed the handcuffs. When Javier asked Rosa where the money was, she told them she did not have any money. Javier then asked Rosa for her alarm pin number and keys to Cliff's Check Cashing. Williams testified that Rosa gave them the keys and code. Williams heard a "pop" after Cortez "disappeared" into Rosa's room. 

When Cortez returned to the living room, the three boys--Mark, York, and Self, unexpectedly entered the front door. Cortez "opened fire." Two of the boys headed towards Mark's bedroom, while one went out the front door. Cortez brought the boy back in and put him in Mark's room. Cortez gave Williams the .25, took the .38 from Javier, and ordered Williams to shoot the boys. Williams shot Mark once in the head and shot the other boy twice--once on the shoulder and once in the head. Williams handed the gun back to Cortez, and Cortez shot the third boy in the head. Williams and Javier headed out to Self's truck, which was in the driveway, and heard more shots coming from the house before Cortez exited.

Williams testified that, at some point during the offense, Cortez had taken Williams's latex gloves because Cortez's got "busted."

Javier drove the three to Cliff's Check Cashing in Self's truck. Javier went inside and ran back outside when the alarm sounded. Javier could not find the safe. Javier told them that Rosa gave them a false alarm code.

You can write to Raul Cortez at:

Raul Cortez  999543  
Polunksy Unit
3872 FM 350 South
Livingston, TX 77351