Lufkin honors fallen officers at memorial service ceremony
LIST: Who are the East Texas officers who have died in line of duty
The Lufkin Police Department hosted the Peace Officers Memorial Day Ceremony at the Angelina County Courthouse to honor officers who have died in the line of duty. The ceremony included a 21-gun salute, a hosting of colors and a final radio call for officers who have fallen.
'Today is just a day to remember the officers who have fallen in the line of duty, who have given their lives to service the community. To me individually, it's just a reminder that although the job becomes 'routine' at times that there are dangers to it.' Deep East Texas Crime Stoppers Executive Director J.B Smith said.
Some of the fallen officers honored include:
Captain Don H. Willmon from the Angelina County Reserves
Officer John E. Logan Junior from the Huntington Police Department
Officer Randall Gordon Stallard from the Central ISD Police Department
Deputy Byford H. Hunter from the Angelina County Sheriff Department
Officer Bryan Daniel Holley from the Hudson ISD Police Department
For anyone who wants to find more information about fallen officers in Angelina County or East Texas, they can visit the Officer Down Memorial website.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Yahoo
LIST: Top priority cold homicide cases Texas Rangers are still trying to solve
TYLER, Texas (KETK) – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is investigating more than 145 unsolved homicides, but only 13 of these make the . Among them are several murders involving young children. KETK news has compiled a list of top priority unsolved homicide cases that Texas Rangers have been working on to bring justice to the victims and closure for their families. LIST: East Texas cold homicide cases Texas Rangers are still trying to solve City: Dallas County: Dallas Suspect(s): Black man According to Texas DPS, in October of 1979, 7-year-old Barclay was walking down the street near 2900 West Northwest Highway when witnesses saw that she was abducted and struck multiple times by a Black man driving a dark colored vehicle, possibly a two-door Buick. Officials said in December of that same year, Barclay was found dead on the side of a county road near Hiram Road in Wills Point. 'An autopsy was conducted and determined the cause of the death to be a homicide,' the Texas Rangers said. 'The Dallas Police Department maintains an open homicide investigation and is being assisted by the Texas Rangers.' City: Houston County: Harris Texas DPS said on Christmas Day in 1980, Estrella Salinas and her 14-year-old son, Andrew Salinas, were found dead on the east side of White Oak Bayou and the Pinemont Bridge, near the 4500 block of Creekmont Drive in Houston. Estella and Andrew were seen in a blue-colored 1972 Mercury Cougar, which Estella had been driving. The vehicle was later found near the intersection of Cavalcade and Eastex Freeway, with the keys and the victim's items still inside. City: Universal City County: Bexar According to officials, recently divorced 23-year-old Herrera was last seen in the early morning hours of April 11, 1981, leaving a bar called Johnny's Inn in Universal City. Two days later Herrera was found dead and nude in a field near the 500 block of East Aviation Drive. 'An autopsy determined her manner of death to be homicide due to multiple injuries,' Texas DPS said. 'Evidence suggests she was sexually assaulted prior to her death.' County: Bexar According to Texas DPS, 21-year-old Richard Anthony 'Tony' Garza disappeared from southern Bexar County on Sept. 14, 1984, and was reported missing by his father six days later. Garza had been working as a stable hand at a local ranch with race horses. On Jan. 4, 1986, Garza's remains were found near U.S. Highway 181 and FM 344 (now called FM 775) in Wilson County. His cause of death was ruled a homicide, officials said. City: Lubbock County: Lubbock On the morning of March 26, 1987, 13-year-old Veronica Taylor was found dead from blunt force trauma in a snow-covered field adjacent to FM 1729 in eastern Lubbock County, the Texas Rangers said. She was last seen leaving a relative's apartment the previous evening. Have you seen them? Texas children that have been missing, unidentified for over 45 years Taylor was only a 6th grader at the time of her death, she was attending school at Murfee elementary in Lubbock. City: Vernon County: Wilbarger Suspect(s): Black man During the early morning hours of Sept. 23, 1990, an intruder entered the apartment of a mom and two sons. The intruders shot the mother and her two sons, 12-year-old Derrick 'Lump' Jackson and 14-year-old James 'Lil James' Edwards, Texas Rangers said. According to officials, Jackson and Edwards died from gunshot wounds, while their mother fought the intruder and was shot several times but survived. County: Crane According to Texas DPS, on Jan. 31, 1990, human remains were found in Crane County and the body was identified as Maria Mendez of Odessa in 2023 by Texas Rangers and the Odessa Police Department. The investigation into her death continues. Beyond the Headlines: Who was the East Texas brother that was murdered nearly 40 years ago? City: Shepherd County: San Jacinto Around 10 a.m. on May 3, 1992, after 19-year-old Natasha Atchley attended a late night to early morning birthday in Shepherd, her car was found burned on a rural dirt road about a mile from the party. 'Atchley's body was located in the trunk of her hatchback car,' Texas DPS said. 'Natasha previously attended school in Livingston, but moved and graduated from Odessa Permian High School in 1990. Atchley was visiting friends from the Livingston area at the time of her murder.' City: Crystal City County: Zavala On Dec. 18, 1992, the body of Luiz Segovia was found near Crystal City. He had just come back from Austin after a state cosmetology exam, officials said. On the night of his murder, Segovia was described as happy about his exam and his future. City: Junction County: Kimble According to Texas DPS, on Nov. 30, 1997 Kenneth Minton was found dead from gunshot wounds behind Junction Restaurant in the northeast corner of IH-10 and US 83. It is believed by investigators that the suspects attempted to conceal the crime but weren't successful. Minton was a truck driver and at the time of his death it was believed he was heading to Florida with a load. County: San Augustine According to the Texas DPS, Harold William 'Bill' Roland was last seen on July 21, 1997 in San Augustine County where he was staying at his lake house on Lake Sam Rayburn. VANISHED: Harold William Roland Officials said Roland told a witness he planned to go fishing and his wife reported him missing the following morning. Also missing was Roland's pickup truck, pontoon boat and trailer. During the next three month, Roland's items were found at different locations including: The pickup truck was found in a rural area of Angelina County burned (arson) The boat trailer was found abandoned in a National Forest in San Augustine Count The pontoon boat was located hidden under willow trees on Lake Sam Rayburn 'Pontoons on the boat had been shot, possibly in an attempt to sink the craft,' officials said. 'Extensive searches and interviews have not revealed the location of Roland, investigators suspect Roland was killed.' City: Laredo County: Webb According to officials, on Sept. 26, 2004 the remains of an unidentified woman were found on the bank of the Rio Grande River in Laredo. LIST: 20 Tyler cold homicide cases police are still trying to solve After the autopsy, it was determined that the woman was murdered and that she has distinct characteristics consisting of gold peace signs on her front teeth. City: North Richland Hills County: Tarrant On Dec. 9, 2007, officials said, Marianne Wilkinson was enjoying her evening with her husband of 46 years when the doorbell rang. After Wilkinson opened the door, she was shot multiple times by an unidentified person and died from the attack. Wilkinson was a mother of two children and a grandmother of four. She graduated from college in 1961 from Southern Methodist University and was very active in her church, First Baptist Church of Keller, where she attended a bi-weekly prayer group and served on the social committee for her Sunday school class. Texas DPS said Wilkinson and her husband had been enjoying their retirement by traveling before she was killed. Texans can submit tips about these cases on the Texas Rangers unsolved homicide website or to stay anonymous call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477). For more information on cold cases Texas Rangers are investigating, people can visit the Texas Department of Public Safety website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Yahoo
Athens man gets more than 5 years in prison for meth trafficking
ATHENS, Texas (KETK) — An Athens man was sentenced to more than 5 years in prison on Thursday after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Man arrested for murder after Shelby County gas station shooting, officials say According to the U.S. Attorney's Office Eastern District of Texas, James Kiser, 40, was arrested on Oct. 19, 2023, after selling around 34 grams of methamphetamine to a person for $500. An investigation uncovered that Kiser had 27 prior convictions for criminal offenses in Henderson and Smith counties. LIST: Top priority cold homicide cases Texas Rangers are still trying to solve On Thursday, a U.S. district judge sentenced Kiser to 70 months in federal prison for his drug trafficking violations. You can now stream KETK and FOX51 News live 24/7 on your smart TV with KETK+, our brand-new app! No antenna, cable, or satellite needed—watch for free, anytime. Just download it on your Roku, Apple TV, or Fire TV and start streaming. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Yahoo
Woman sentenced after admitting to evidence tampering in 2024 Tyler fatal shooting
TYLER, Texas (KETK) — A woman who was accused of tampering with evidence following the murder of a 19-year-old in 2024 was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty on Thursday. On July 4, 2024, Rawly Sanchez was murdered while driving with his friends in Tyler. According to an affidavit, Sanchez and his friends had to do a U-turn. When they turned behind Bautista Auto, the driver reported seeing a person in a building with an AK-47-style rifle who started shooting at them. 'I'm a monster': Upshur County man gets 90 years for sexually assaulting young girl Rawly was shot and his friends took him to a local hospital, where he died. Around the same time, a Tyler Police Department officer was driving by Bautista Auto when he saw a white Ford Explorer with bullet holes on the side. When the officer came back later, the Ford was gone, and then Smith County Sheriff's Office deputies arrived on the scene. During the investigation, Corina Bautista arrived at the scene and was questioned about the Ford. Initially, she reportedly said the car was never there, but then said someone had shot at them when shown footage of the vehicle. Athens man gets more than 5 years in prison for meth trafficking After speaking with Corina, deputies went to her home and found the Ford parked in her driveway. Additionally, a man was seen inside, who was identified as Seferino Bautista-Renteria, Corina's husband. Seferino was questioned and claimed that he was at the lake with his family and then went to Bautista Auto to drop off jet skis. Seferino claimed he and his son were almost hit by the truck Sanchez was in, so they went inside. According to the affidavit, Seferino claimed not to have shown any guns. According to officials, several 7.62-caliber bullet casings were found at the scene of the murder, and Corina admitted there were guns at the business after initially saying there were none at the scene. After obtaining a search warrant, Bautisa Auto officials found two AK-style rifles in the back of the building. Following the investigation, Seferino was arrested and charged with murder and two counts of aggravated assault. On April 3, before 114th District Court Judge Reeve Jackson. Corina was also arrested following the investigation and was charged with tampering with and fabricating physical evidence with intent to impair. On Thursday, Corina was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
