She suffered from drug dependence and used stolen prescription medication. In November 1891, a fire of mysterious origin destroyed the courthouse in Homer. U.S. Attorney's Office April 26, 2011. The city was originally founded in 1882 as a stop on the Houston, East and West Texas Railway; it is named for Abraham P. Lufkin, a cotton merchant and Galveston city councilman. On April 29, Saenz was fired from the DaVita Lufkin Dialysis Center,and the facility shut down for two months. Computers seized from her home would later reveal that,immediately following the first two deaths,Saenz had done an Internet searchforbleach poisoningand whether or not bleach could be detected indialysis lines, according to NacogdochesDaily Sentinelnewspaper. During this time, many of the businesses and professionals from Homer began to relocate to Lufkin to be closer to the railroad. There Was A Car On Fire Today On Timberland Drive In Lufkin. A neighbor reported hearing three gunshots and a car driving away at high speed around 11:55 p.m. Sort All Cases By: Company Area | Male | Female | County | Year | Last Name. Affidavit: Lufkin man was on couples yard crew when he killed them. BEAUMONT, TXA 31-year-old Lufkin woman has been sentenced . The history of Lufkin can be divided into three main eras, the railroad era, the timber boom, and the golden era of expansion. [45], According to the United States Census Bureau 80.7% of people in Lufkin above the age of 25 are high-school graduates or higher. By Benjamin H. Smith License To Kill: Saenz's Dialysis Patient Said, 'What Did You Give Me?' Before Dying The caller believed the shots came from an abandoned home on Treadwell Street. Lufkin Azalea Trail, 1.9-mile (3.1km) public nature trail, Medford Collection of American Western Art, the contemporary art collection at the Lufkin City Hall, Downtown Walking Tour, a tour through historic downtown Lufkin, This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 07:07. (2 Mar 2023) Alex Murdaugh's theft of millions of dollars was about to be revealed so he killed his wife and son to buy time to figure a way out, a prosecutor said Wednesday during closing arguments in the disgraced South Carolina attorney's murder trial. LUFKIN, Texas - A former Texas nurse accused of killing five of her patients and injuring five others by injecting bleach into their kidney dialysis tubing was found guilty of capital murder . Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. They paid their way out the next morning, but this infuriated the chief surveyor. While Saenz was married with two young children, her marriage had hit a rough patch. The police crime scene unit and detectives are currently speaking to witnesses and [] According to the Department of Public Safety's website, these are the top unsolved cases in East Texas, Below, find out where 25 of the most infamous crimes in history took place and what the locations are used for today. 8,376,755. "He said 'Ma'am she's gone,'" McClung said. The witnesses said they saw her draw the bleach up into a syringeandtheninjectinto the IV lines of twootherpatientsreceiving dialysis, according to theAssociated Press. She claimed that no measuring cups were available, so she had to use a syringe to measure the bleach. Could these calls be investigated by you?. WASHINGTONA Lufkin, Texas man and woman have been sentenced to federal prison for their part in a double homicide in Nacogdoches, Texas, in August 2007 . On October 15, 1890, the town was officially incorporated. As of the census of 2010, 35,067 people, 12,928 households, and 8,717 families resided in the city. Nearly a block away on Rowe Ave., a different neighbor flagged down officers and said there was a man laying on a driveaway across from Collins Chapel CME Church. East Texas dairy farmer reacts to FDAs guidance on plant-based milk, Suspect in Lufkin double-murder taken into custody. Since its statehood in 1845, Texas has been the home of thousands of honored and well-known men and women. The city council's responsibility is to make all legislative and policy decisions, while the responsibility of the city manager is to decide all administrative decisions. When the so-called "timber boom" came to an end, a new "golden era of expansion" began. LUFKIN, Texas (KETK) - Police identified both the shooter and the victim in connection to a fatal shooting following an argument in the Sonic parking lot in Lufkin. [8] Saenz then applied to work as a receptionist in a Lufkin medical office, in violation of her bail. [13], District Attorney Clyde Herrington believed more victims existed than just the 10 indicted cases, based on CDC research. A case that rocked the Lufkin Police Department to its core and left the. He was arrested on Saturday in connection with the Thursday deaths. 18,000 local law enforcement agencies in the U.S. LUFKIN, Texas (KTRE) - The suspect in a double-murder which occurred in Lufkin has been taken into custody. Police found a bloody claw hammer hidden under a pile of grass clippings and branches in the back of one of the workers truck. If your suggestion turns up in the book, wel send you a free copy when it is completed this fall. Anyone that comes to the clerk's office to take care of their outstanding warrants will be given safe harbor. [53] Additionally, Stephen F. Austin State University is located not far away in Nacogdoches, Texas. Learn More. With a population of 34,074, Lufkin has a combined rate of violent and property crime that is very high compared to other places of similar population size. By a vote in 1885, though, the courthouse remained in Homer. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Bob Bowman's East Texas All rights reserved. Previously, she had been fired from several former health care jobs, including a Lufkin hospital, where she was accused to stealing drugs and faking a urine test, according to the New Haven Register. [7][8], In the spring of 2008, DaVita's Lufkin clinic had an unusual spike in patients falling seriously ill during treatment. Lufkin police said they would like to sincerely thank the person who provided the tip and the public for tirelessly sharing Rodriguezs photo and information over the past day. When Clinton confronted Saenz, Saenz said she was cleaning an unused dialysis machine, and used a syringe to get a precise measurementa method that was contrary to DaVita corporate policy. Almost ten years later Megan's mother is still asking that question, while clinging to memories of a happier time. Joel Andrews,AP Photo/The Lufkin Daily News. Office of Public Affairs (202) 514-2007/TDD (202) 514-1888. The NeighborhoodScout search engine is covered under US Patents No. According to the affidavit, another worker on the crew saw Rodriguez knock on the side door and thought he did so in order to use the bathroom. LUFKIN, Texas ( KETK) - Lufkin Police are investigating an incident involving a plot to murder a family after a Weatherford 12-year-old girl was found lying in the street with a gunshot. By a simple count ignoring population, more crimes occur in the southeast parts of Lufkin, TX: about 0 per year. Other peoplereported Saenz being teary-eyed, according tocourt documents. In 2007, her husband filed for divorce and obtained a protective order against her, according to the New Haven Register. Date(s) & Update Frequency: You could tell she was upset, Clinton later testified. Violent offenses tracked included rape, murder and non-negligent manslaughter, armed robbery, and aggravated assault, including assault with a deadly weapon. Methodology: By 2007, she had made her way to Lufkin, Texas, where she was hired as a nurse at a DaVita dialysis clinic. Property crimes that are tracked for this analysis are burglary, larceny over fifty dollars, motor vehicle theft, and arson. An arrest affidavit states Rodriguez was part of a crew hired to do yard work at the home. Rodriguez is a suspect in a double-murder in the deaths of Carolyn Price, 68, and Cecil Sheffield, 77. Submit a Tip Online. LUFKIN, Texas (KTRE) - A Lufkin man murdered a couple by beating them with a hammer, hedge trimmers and a rod while he was working on their yard, according to the arrest affidavit. When investigators found out why, it was almost too much to believe:NurseKimberly Saenzwas injecting bleach into the dialysis machines while patients were still hooked up to them. Rodriguez has a history of violence with 18 prior Angelina County arrests on charges including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, engaging in organized criminal activity, possession of a controlled substance, assault/family violence, and DWI. Texas Rangers unsolved homicides East Texas. [8][6], In early Lufkin history, most daily life revolved around churches, schools, and sports activities, but this began to change between 1965 and 1983, when Lufkin began a cultural expansion. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race. It was officially incorporated on October 15, 1890. In early 2008, however,lives were being taken at the DaVita Dialysis Center inLufkin, Texas. Two weeks later, DaVita released a statement, "We believe the events that led to our voluntarily closing the Lufkin Dialysis center were the result of a criminal act by an individual who has been terminated and is no longer working at the center, according to, Co-worker Candace Lackey would later testifythatSaenz was unhappy at DaVita and had expressed her dislike for several patients, all of whom either died or suffered medical emergencies over the past month, according to, . Step One: The City of Lufkin grants a warrant amnesty program complete with an opportunity to pay reduced fines. Santa Cruz County Justice of the Peace Emilio G. Velasquez made his decision following hours of . Lufkin received Texas's first biomass power plant in late 2009. This week Your Worst Nightmare spotlights the brutal murder of an 18-year-old girl and the rape of her older cousin. Lufkin received Texas's first biomass power plant in late 2009. Learn More. Lufkin police say Michael "Mike" Rodriguez, 28, of Lufkin, was taken into custody Saturday morning in the 2200 block of North Raguet Street after officers located him using information from a Crime Stoppers tip. . The five murder victims were Clara Strange, Thelma Metcalf, Garlin Kelley, Cora Bryant, and Opal Few. At the time, Ana helped out by taking care of Jennifer's son, who was about five years old back then. Improvements included the Kurth Memorial Library, new museums, a civic center, Angelina College, a new federal building, a country club, municipal and city parks, two shopping malls, and the Lufkin Independent School District. [14] At the victim impact statement portion of the trial, the daughter of victim Thelma Metcalf told Saenz, "You are nothing more than a psychopathic serial killer. LUFKIN, Texas (KTRE) - The Lufkin Police Department is asking for the public's help in locating double murder suspect Michael "Mike" Rodriguez. [9], On March 31, 2012, an Angelina County jury convicted Saenz of murdering five patients and injuring five others. Lufkin is the largest city in Angelina County, Texas and the county seat. She denied giving anyone medication or injecting bleach into their IV lines and was sent home for the day. (Mar 1) The percentage savings is only on the fine, not the court costs. "The person or persons who committed this horrific crime, it's been 10 years," McClung said. To be eligible for the cash rewards, tipsters MUST call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1 . In 1887, Kurth obtained a sawmill from Charles L. Kelty. [22] The racial makeup of the city was 56.7% White, 27.4% African American, 0.5% Native American, 1.7% Asian, 11.6% from other races, and 2.2 two or more races. It has an approximate length of 20 miles (32km) and connects with the Union Pacific Railroad lines. . The Angelina and Neches River Railroad (A&NR) runs through Lufkin. He also serves on the Texas Historical Commission. The rate of crime in Lufkin is 28.29 per 1,000 residents during a standard year. ; 3 The FBI determined that the agency's data were overreported. The victim in last night's shooting is identified as 17-year-old Christopher. The bucket Saenz was using, as well as the syringes, tested positive for bleach. Officers were called to the scene around 6:15 p.m. after his girlfriend found him, Pebsworth said. The 2019 crime rate in Lufkin, TX is 376 (City-Data.com crime index), which is 1.4 times greater than the U.S. average. A year later,Saenz was indicted for the five deathsthatoccurred there in April 2008, and charged with one count of capital murder and five of aggravated assault, according to. They also found her guilty of capital murder in count six of her indictment, which meant jurors believed she killed at least two of the alleged murder victims, according to theDaily Sentinel. This is important because the overall crime rate can be further illuminated by understanding if violent crime or property crimes (or both) are the major contributors to the general rate of crime in Lufkin. Chapter 10 Crime by Jurisdiction. Harold William "Bill" Roland was last seen in San Augustine County, Texas on 07-21-1997. In the last 5 years Lufkin has seen increasing violent crime and decline of property crime. Soon after in 1883, a telegraph line was strung connecting Lufkin to Nacogdoches by telegraph. Fighting Crime, Educating the Community, and Assisting Law Enforcement since 1982. . Forthoseaffected,dialysis centers, such as those run by DaVita Inc.,are a godsend, cleaning the blood of those whose kidneys can no longer do so. In the mid-1960s, a cultural expansion began, and improvements were made to education and the way of life, including museums and the opening of a new library.[6]. When buying cowboy boots, there are a few aspects to consider, such as how far up they go on your legs and their design. On April 28, 2008, Saenz showed up to work and was toldby Clintonthatshe had been reassignedfor the daytowork as apatient caretechnician. Carolyn Price, 68, and Cecil Sheffield, 77, were found dead in their home, located in the 2200 block of North Raguet Street, on Sept. 16. LUFKIN, Texas (KTRE) - A Lufkin man murdered a couple by beating them with a hammer, hedge trimmers and a rod while he was working on their yard, according to the arrest affidavit. Lufkin Woman Sentenced for Involvement in Murders. Detectives said Megan had been suffocated with a plastic bag andher throat was slit. In Lufkin, your chance of becoming a victim of a property crime is one in 24, which is a rate of 42 per one thousand population. At the time, little research had been done on how to detect bleach in blood. The city is situated in Deep East Texas and is 115mi (185km) northeast of Houston. The north part of Lufkin has fewer cases of murder with only 0 in a typical year. All rights reserved. Lufkin is 115 miles (185km) northeast of Houston. A department official secretly wrote state health inspectors and asked them to investigate. By late yesterday, the investigation led detectives to Rodriguez as the suspect. "We're hoping for that one piece of evidence. NeighborhoodScout has done just that. "Even though I may have an idea, yeah, it is frustrating, until I do find the right person," Lt. Shapaka said in a 2002 interview. 1, 2023 through April 30, 2023. Copyright 2021 KTRE. Kara Andrepont was named City Secretary in February 2012. Everyone thought his murder was a tragic and random act of violence, but when the police began looking into James' relationship with his wife and stepdaughter, the investigation took a shocking turn.Marcia Kelly was born in 1970 and grew up in the . Computers seized from her home would later reveal that,immediately following the first two deaths,Saenz had done an Internet searchforbleach poisoningand whether or not bleach could be detected indialysis lines, according to Nacogdoches, On May 30, 2008, Lufkin Police arrested Kimberly Saenz, then 34,and charged her with two counts of aggravated assaultfor the incidents of April 28, according to the, . Rodriguezs family told police that Rodriguez is violent and they blamed him for the death of the father, the affidavit states. Police later found bent hedge trimmers with possible blood on them at Rodriguezs home, according to the affidavit. Following four weeks of testimonyand 14 hours of deliberation, the jury found her guilty on three counts of aggravated assault. Following four weeks of testimonyand 14 hours of deliberation, the jury found her guilty on three counts of aggravated assault. When questioned by police, Saenz mentioned her use of bleach to clean lines before detectives mentioned bleach. [30] The senators who represent Texas are Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, who are both Republicans. Copyright 2000-2023 Location Inc. Brazos Transit District (formerly Brazos Valley Transit Authority) provides regularly scheduled public bus service in the Lufkin area.[55]. POLICE REPORTS: Police arrest trio on 3 separate charges of driving while intoxicated The Lufkin Daily News Of five patients who died, Saenz had direct contact with them, according to, . Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. Reflects 2021 calendar year; released from FBI in Oct. 2022 (latest available). Clinton confronted Saenz, who said she was using bleach to clean the lines of an unused dialysis machine,a common practice at the clinic,and used a syringe to get a precise measurement,which Clinton said was not company policy,according to. A Lufkin man murdered a couple by beating them with a hammer, hedge trimmers and a rod while he was working on their yard, according to the arrest affidavit. No funny business going on here. After several other syringes used by Saenz tested positive for bleach, she was fired the following day. The median age was 34 years.[23]. LUFKIN, Texas The Lufkin Police Department has arrested a double-murder suspect who was considered "armed and extremely dangerous" prior to his capture. wind speeds 158-206 mph) tornado 5.4 miles away from the Lufkin city center .. On 1/19/1990, a category F3 tornado 6.0 miles away from the city center injured 2 people and caused between $500,000 and $5,000,000 in . Absolutely.". Clinton thenexaminedthe bucket and syringes Saenz had beenseenusing,all of which tested positive for bleach. Please direct statistical requests that are not able to be generated through the portal to ucrstats@dps.texas.gov. . Copyright 2021 KTRE. The suspect in a roadside hostage situation is in custody after being shot in the neck by an officer, according to Lufkin Police. Importantly, we found that Lufkin has one of the highest rates of motor vehicle theft in the nation according to our analysis of FBI crime data. He killed them on three counts of aggravated assault MUST call the crime Stoppers hotline 1. The Thursday deaths people, 12,928 households, and much more more crimes occur in the neck by an,! Attorney & # x27 ; s first biomass power plant in late.. 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