Texas Department of Public Safety missing person bulletin for Rebecca “Becky” Beard, who disappeared in 1986.
FREEPORT, Texas — Less than a month before Rebecca “Becky” Beard disappeared in March 1986, a Harris County prosecutor contacted her about testifying in a criminal case against three Houston police officers.
Newly examined records reveal that Beard gave a sworn statement in September 1985. She described witnessing officers mistreat two women during a Houston traffic stop.
The records also include a February 5, 1986, letter from prosecutor Donald A. Smyth. He informed Beard that the officers would face trial on March 31, 1986.
Beard disappeared before that scheduled trial date.
The documents establish her potential role as a prosecution witness. However, they do not establish any connection between the criminal case and her disappearance.
Prosecutor contacted Becky Beard weeks before disappearance
A February 1986 letter from prosecutor John B. Holmes Jr. contacted Becky Beard about her potential testimony in a case involving allegations against Houston police officers, weeks before her disappearance.
Donald A. Smyth, chief of the Harris County District Attorney’s Civil Rights Division, wrote to Beard on February 5, 1986.
The letter identified three defendants: D. M. Prince, B. D. Franklin and L. J. Bradley.
Smyth described a criminal case involving the alleged beating of two young women in city jail custody on September 5, 1985.
He also identified three defense attorneys: Kent Schaffer, Wendell Odom and Reid Walker.
Smyth warned Beard that defense attorneys or private investigators might contact her about the case.
He explained that she did not have to speak with them or provide a written or recorded statement.
Smyth also asked Beard to call his office to discuss her appearance at trial.
The prosecutor thanked her for her courage and cooperation.
The letter confirms that prosecutors considered Beard an important witness. However, it does not establish whether the court formally subpoenaed her.
Becky Beard described disturbing Houston traffic stop
Becky Beard gave a sworn statement on September 10, 1985, describing a Houston traffic stop involving her two friends. She alleged that officers mistreated one of the women during the encounter.
Beard provided a sworn affidavit on September 10, 1985.
She described an encounter that began after an evening with Tammy McColskey and Julie Turcola.
According to her statement, the women visited a Houston nightclub called Fizz on Richmond Avenue.
Beard said she drove because she had consumed little alcohol.
Around 1:30 a.m., the women left the nightclub. Beard drove toward Westheimer Road.
A police vehicle followed them.
Officers stopped the car near Hillcroft and Westheimer.
Beard said an officer requested her driver’s license and proof of insurance. Meanwhile, another officer questioned the passengers about drinking and drug use.
The encounter soon escalated.
Witness said officer pulled handcuffed woman from patrol car
In her sworn affidavit, Becky Beard described watching an officer pull Tammy McColskey from a car. Beard stated that McColskey fell on her face and chest, her dress slipped down, and other officers stood nearby laughing.
In her affidavit, Beard described watching an officer handcuff McColskey and place her inside a patrol car.
She said McColskey later banged on the vehicle’s window and asked the officer to loosen the handcuffs.
Beard then described what happened next.
“The white officer pulled her out of the car,” Beard stated.
According to Beard, McColskey fell face-first onto the pavement.
Beard also said the woman’s dress slipped down while officers stood nearby laughing.
“She was crying,” Beard wrote.
The officer conducting Beard’s traffic investigation instructed her to look only at him.
However, Beard said she glanced back toward the patrol vehicles.
She then saw officers move McColskey into another police car.
Beard described McColskey lying with her head on the vehicle’s floor.
Officers eventually released Beard after issuing citations for driving without proof of insurance and without her driver’s license.
Sworn statement became part of police misconduct investigation
Beard signed her two-page affidavit before a notary on September 10, 1985.
She submitted the statement to Sergeant M. Angel of the Internal Affairs Division.
Her account described what she personally witnessed during the roadside encounter.
However, Beard did not describe witnessing the alleged beating inside the city jail.
That distinction matters because the prosecutor’s letter referred to criminal charges involving the treatment of two female prisoners at the jail.
The documents establish that Beard witnessed part of the encounter that preceded the women’s detention.
They do not establish that she witnessed every incident underlying the charges.
Police officers faced scheduled March 1986 trial
The February 1986 letter placed the officers’ trial on the calendar for March 31.
Smyth asked Beard to verify her address and telephone number. He also told her that prosecutors would contact her about appearing in court.
He explained that Beard would not need to attend unless the case proceeded to trial.
The documents do not establish whether the trial began on schedule or how the criminal charges ended.
Additional court records would help clarify the outcome.
New documents add another chapter to Becky Beard investigation
Beard disappeared from the Freeport area in early March 1986. She was 22 years old.
Her remains have never been recovered.
The discovery of her sworn affidavit and the prosecutor’s letter adds another documented event to the weeks leading up to her disappearance.
The records show that Beard had reported alleged police misconduct. They also show that prosecutors expected her cooperation in a criminal proceeding.
However, the documents contain no evidence that the officers threatened Beard or played any role in her disappearance.
Investigators have pursued the Beard case for decades. Paul Taylor Jr. received a life sentence in 1995 in connection with her murder.
A recent search near a Brazoria County cemetery failed to locate her remains.
The newly examined court documents raise additional questions about Beard’s activities before she vanished. They do not establish a new motive or identify another suspect.
ChopperRose.com continues examining records and interviewing witnesses in the nearly 41-year-old case.
My new book, When Two Worlds Collide During WWII, follows two families on opposite sides of World War II and the remarkable events that eventually brought their lives together in Wisconsin.
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Former Manvel Police Chief Keith Traylor responds to allegations of retaliation and workplace misconduct.
Former Manvel Police Chief Keith Traylor has responded to allegations of retaliation, abuse of authority and a toxic workplace.
In written responses to questions from investigative reporter Tammy Rose, Traylor defended his leadership and explained his departure from the department.
He also revealed a surprising development involving former Manvel Police Captain Chris Day.
Traylor claims Day wants to withdraw his complaint against him. He also says Day has applied to work for him again at the Clute Police Department.
Those claims raise new questions about the dispute that preceded Traylor’s departure from Manvel.
Former Manvel police chief explains departure
Traylor maintains that he voluntarily retired after 13 years with the City of Manvel.
“I left the Manvel Police Department to retire from the City of Manvel,” Traylor wrote.
He described his decision as difficult because of his relationships with employees and residents.
However, city records previously obtained by Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose reveal a different side of his departure.
A September 10, 2026, notice outlined the city’s proposal to terminate Traylor’s employment.
The city later reached a separation agreement with Traylor. That agreement included language describing his departure as retirement.
Traylor’s latest explanation does not directly address the earlier proposed termination notice.
Traylor disputes retaliation allegations
Former Captain Chris Day filed a seven-page complaint on September 3, 2026.
The complaint raised allegations involving retaliation, abuse of authority and workplace conditions.
Traylor disputes those allegations.
He argues that dissatisfied former employees drove the complaints.
Traylor also claims current department employees do not share those concerns.
However, he did not identify those employees in his written response.
Former chief calls for independent investigation
Traylor says an independent investigation could provide additional context.
He believes such a review would present a more balanced account of the complaint.
Traylor also claims several current Manvel employees contacted him after his departure.
According to Traylor, those employees expressed frustration with the complaint and the city’s handling of the situation.
His response does not establish whether the city conducted an independent investigation into every allegation.
Traylor claims Chris Day wants to withdraw complaint
Former Manvel Police Captain Chris Day. Traylor claims Day has asked to withdraw his complaint and applied to work for him at the Clute Police Department.
One of the most significant developments involves Traylor’s relationship with Chris Day.
Traylor says Day contacted him during the past three weeks.
The two reportedly discussed the investigation that preceded Day’s dismissal and the allegations against Traylor.
“We have since resolved his concerns,” Traylor wrote.
Traylor further claims Day asked the Manvel city manager to withdraw the complaint against him.
Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose has not independently confirmed that request.
Day’s original complaint remains an important part of the documented dispute, regardless of whether he now seeks its withdrawal.
Former captain reportedly applies to Clute Police Department
Former Manvel Police Chief Keith Traylor responds to allegations of retaliation and workplace misconduct.
Traylor also revealed another development involving Day.
Since taking an interim leadership position at the Clute Police Department, Traylor says Day has contacted him about employment.
According to Traylor, Day submitted an application to work at Clute PD.
Traylor claims Day would work for him again if the department offered him an opportunity.
The reported application marks a potentially significant change in their professional relationship.
However, Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose has not independently verified the application or any hiring decision.
Former chief says allegations damaged reputation
Traylor also addressed the effect of the allegations and subsequent reporting.
He says the controversy damaged his personal character, professional reputation and credibility.
Traylor cited his 43 years in law enforcement and 13 years leading the Manvel Police Department.
He maintains that the allegations should not define his career.
His response also emphasizes the importance of presenting accurate information about his departure.
Questions remain about Manvel police leadership
Former Manvel Police Captain Chris Day. Day confirmed he withdrew his complaint against the city and applied for a lieutenant position with the Clute Police Department.
Traylor’s written response provides his perspective on the controversy.
However, several questions remain.
City records show Manvel considered terminating Traylor before reaching a separation agreement.
Meanwhile, Traylor now claims that the former captain who filed a complaint against him wants to withdraw it.
He also says that same former employee wants to work under his leadership again.
Those developments warrant further examination.
Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose will seek independent confirmation from Day and the City of Manvel.
The investigation into Manvel police leadership and the circumstances surrounding Traylor’s departure continues.
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A recreation of the outfit Rebecca “Becky” Beard was reportedly wearing when she vanished in March 1986. Her family continues searching for answers 40 years later.
FREEPORT, Texas — Weeks before Rebecca “Becky” Beard vanished in March 1986, she allegedly confided in a man who now says she feared two people were following her and intended to kill her.
In an exclusive interview with investigative reporter Tammy Rose, Barry Williams recalled an evening with Beard that ended with an unsettling request. She wanted him to remain outside her home until she safely entered and closed the door.
Williams also described a man he said had become obsessed with Beard and wanted to control her personal life.
The account comes as investigators continue examining leads in the nearly 41-year-old murder case. A recent excavation near a Brazoria County cemetery failed to locate Beard’s remains.
Barry Williams recalls Becky’s warning about two men
Williams said he met Beard through an automobile business where she worked. The two eventually went out for drinks at a Freeport-area nightclub he identified as Chevy’s.
During their evening together, Williams said Beard told him two men had followed her around the area.
She believed they intended to kill her.
Williams recalled that Beard appeared sober and serious when she described her fears.
“She wasn’t drunk talking or nothing like that,” Williams said.
He acknowledged that he did not fully appreciate the warning at the time.
Looking back, he said her expression and the seriousness of her statements have stayed with him.
Williams said he had several businesses in the community and wanted no involvement in a potentially violent confrontation.
Becky allegedly wanted freedom from a controlling man
Williams described another troubling aspect of their conversation.
According to his account, Beard believed the two men worked for a man who had become obsessed with her.
Williams said the man did not want Beard spending time with others or pursuing an independent life.
He described someone who wanted Beard available whenever he demanded her attention.
But Williams said Beard wanted to move forward with her own life.
The interview does not establish the man’s identity or verify Beard’s reported concerns. No evidence presented in the interview connects the unidentified man or the alleged followers to her murder.
Still, Williams’ recollections provide another account of Beard’s personal circumstances before she vanished.
A final ride home and an unusual request
Williams recalled taking Beard home around 1 a.m. after their evening together.
He said he pulled into her driveway and waited as she approached the house.
According to Williams, Beard specifically asked him to remain until she entered and someone closed the door.
Her sister, Carol Mize, participated in the interview and helped Williams revisit details from that evening.
Williams recalled seeing someone open the door and waiting until the women entered the house.
He said he then backed out of the driveway and left.
The request stood out because Beard appeared concerned about reaching the safety of her home.
Williams said he never saw her again.
However, the interview does not establish the precise date of that encounter. Williams’ account places it before Beard’s disappearance, rather than necessarily on the night she vanished.
Witness description raises questions about Becky Beard’s clothing
A recreation of the outfit Rebecca “Becky” Beard was reportedly wearing when she vanished in March 1986. Her family continues searching for answers 40 years later.
During an exclusive interview, Barry Williams described the clothing he recalled Rebecca “Becky” Beard wearing when they went out together several weeks before her disappearance.
However, his description caught the attention of Beard’s sister, Carol Mize.
Mize had previously helped investigative reporter Tammy Rose recreate an image of the outfit she remembered her sister wearing the night she disappeared in March 1986.
While listening to Williams describe Beard’s clothing, they noticed that his account appeared to match the outfit Mize associated with the night her sister vanished.
The similarity stood out because Williams said he last saw Beard several weeks before her disappearance.
The apparent discrepancy raises questions about the timing of Williams’ recollection. It remains unclear why his description of an earlier encounter appeared to match the clothing Beard’s sister remembers from the night she disappeared.
Becky Beard vanished after visiting the Excalibur Club
Beard was 22 years old when she disappeared from Freeport on March 1, 1986.
She left behind a young daughter and a family that has spent four decades searching for answers.
Investigators focused on several people and locations during the original investigation.
In 1995, Paul Taylor Jr. pleaded guilty to Beard’s murder and received a life sentence.
Despite the conviction, investigators never recovered her remains.
Taylor has provided information about possible burial locations over the years. Searches have failed to locate Beard.
Williams’ interview does not establish an alternative account of the murder. However, it adds information about what Beard allegedly feared before she disappeared.
New cemetery search ends without finding remains
Search crews excavate an area near a Brazoria County cemetery after new witness information raised questions about the possible location of Rebecca Beard’s remains.
The Williams interview follows another development in the investigation.
In October 2026, search personnel returned to an area near a Brazoria County cemetery after renewed interest in a witness’s allegations.
The woman claimed she witnessed Beard’s burial in 1986.
Investigators previously questioned her credibility because of inconsistencies in her statements.
A nearby property owner later contacted Rose about activity involving former Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office investigator John Blankenship.
Texas EquuSearch assisted with a search that lasted approximately four hours.
According to a source familiar with the operation, searchers found no remains.
The excavation did not establish the witness’s allegations or resolve the question of Beard’s burial location.
Attorney General allows investigative records to remain withheld
Public records remain another obstacle in the search for answers.
In an August 28, 2026, ruling involving the Beard investigation, the Texas Attorney General allowed Brazoria County to withhold certain investigative information under the Texas Public Information Act.
The ruling required the release of basic information.
A separate ruling dated October 29, 2026, addressed Brazoria County request 26-2686.
The Attorney General again permitted the county to withhold submitted information under Section 552.108(a)(1) of the Texas Government Code while requiring the release of basic information.
Four decades later, questions remain
Williams’ account introduces another perspective on Beard’s life before her disappearance.
His recollections include her reported fear of two men, allegations involving a controlling relationship, and an unusual request for protection when he drove her home.
The interview also raises questions about the timing of their last encounter and the clothing Williams remembers.
Those details require corroboration.
For Beard’s family, the central question remains unchanged.
Where are her remains?
Texas Department of Public Safety missing person bulletin for Rebecca “Becky” Beard, who disappeared in 1986.
Nearly 41 years after she disappeared, investigators have yet to answer it.
Watch the exclusive interview with Barry Williams.
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Galveston City Council Member Jason Hardcastle. His previous role as Park Board chairman is the subject of separate civil lawsuits.
GALVESTON, Texas — Galveston City Council Member Jason Hardcastle was arrested Friday night following a two-vehicle crash on Seawall Boulevard, according to an October 31, 2026, Galveston Police Department press release.
Police responded to the 6800 block of Seawall Boulevard around 8:15 p.m. Friday, October 30. No injuries were reported.
According to police, an officer observed signs of possible intoxication involving Hardcastle. Following an investigation, officers arrested him on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, first offense, a Class B misdemeanor.
Police said Hardcastle refused to provide a breath sample. Officers then obtained a search warrant for a blood specimen.
While officers executed the warrant at a local hospital, Hardcastle allegedly physically resisted their efforts.
Police subsequently charged him with resisting arrest, search or transportation, a Class A misdemeanor.
Hardcastle was booked into the Galveston County Jail on two charges:
Driving while intoxicated, first offense — $1,000 bond.
Resisting arrest, search or transportation — $1,500 bond.
Total bond: $2,500.
The arrest comes months after two separate civil lawsuits named Hardcastle in his official capacity as chairman of the Galveston Park Board of Trustees.
Those lawsuits are unrelated to the criminal allegations.
Police records requested following Hardcastle arrest
ChopperRose.com obtained Hardcastle’s booking photograph from the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office.
The Galveston Police Department also provided an official press release confirming his arrest and the two charges.
ChopperRose.com has requested additional records, including the arrest report, probable cause affidavit, crash report, search warrant and available body-camera footage.
Those records could provide more details about the investigation.
Galveston police confirmed Saturday that Hardcastle was no longer in the county jail.
Hardcastle is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
In May 2025, the City of Galveston and City Manager Brian Maxwell sued the Galveston Park Board of Trustees and Hardcastle in his official capacity as board chairman.
The lawsuit alleged violations of the Texas Open Meetings Act during meetings on May 12 and May 22, 2025.
City officials challenged actions involving employee matters and negotiations.
In June 2025, a judge granted an injunction that restricted certain actions from those meetings.
However, the lawsuit did not end with a finding of liability.
Court records show the parties later agreed to dismiss all claims with prejudice.
Judge Jared Robinson signed the final dismissal order on March 19, 2026.
The agreement stated that neither side admitted fault. Neither side paid money to resolve the dispute.
Case number: 25-CV-0913, Galveston County’s 405th District Court.
Former Beach Patrol chief filed federal lawsuit
Galveston Council Member Jason Hardcastle and court records from a 2025 lawsuit involving the Galveston Park Board of Trustees.
A second lawsuit followed the dismissal of longtime Galveston Beach Patrol Chief Peter Davis.
Davis filed his federal lawsuit in August 2025.
He named the Galveston Park Board, Hardcastle and interim CEO Marty Miles. The lawsuit named Hardcastle and Miles in their official capacities.
Davis challenged his termination after more than four decades with the Beach Patrol.
His lawsuit alleged that the board mishandled his dismissal and denied him certain employment protections.
The Park Board defended its decision. Officials cited concerns about Davis’ judgment and leadership.
The federal case carried the number 3:25-CV-00254 in the Southern District of Texas.
A September 2026 Park Board agenda listed the lawsuit for discussion, including a possible settlement.
That agenda does not establish whether the parties reached an agreement. The latest court disposition still requires confirmation.
Separate legal matters
The lawsuits involved Hardcastle’s official duties with the Park Board. Neither case involved allegations of impaired driving.
The October 30 arrest represents a separate criminal matter.
ChopperRose.com continues to seek police records and additional information about the arrest.
This story will be updated as verified information becomes available.
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GALVESTON COUNTY, Texas — A woman who was just 12 years old in 1979 is sharing her account of a frightening encounter with three men near a convenience store.
The woman, identified only as Renee to protect her privacy, recently spoke with investigative reporter Tammy Rose.
Her story dates back to the Texas Killing Fields era, when several young women disappeared or were murdered in the Houston-Galveston region.
Renee believes the men tried to abduct her. Nearly five decades later, she still remembers details about their vehicle and behavior.
Three men inside a vehicle
Renee recalls seeing three men inside a four-door vehicle near a convenience store in 1979. She believes the vehicle was a Jeep Wagoneer. Photo is for illustrative purposes only.
Renee recalled walking toward a convenience store in 1979.
She noticed three men sitting inside a four-door vehicle. She believes it was a Jeep Wagoneer.
One man sat in the back seat. According to Renee, he leaned forward between the two front bucket seats.
As she walked past, the man tapped the front passenger to draw his attention to her.
Renee entered the store and purchased a bag of onion rings.
What happened during that encounter has stayed with her for decades.
A childhood memory that never faded
Renee returns to the area where she says three men attempted to abduct her when she was 12 years old in 1979. Nearly five decades later, she remembers details of the encounter.
Renee was 12 years old at the time.
She remembers the vehicle’s layout and the positions of the three men. Those details remain central to her account.
Her experience raises questions about suspicious encounters involving young girls during that period.
However, no evidence presented in this interview establishes a connection between the men Renee described and any known Texas Killing Fields homicide.
Watch Renee tell her story
In an exclusive interview, Renee returns to the events of 1979 and describes what she remembers.
Renee shares her firsthand account, including details about the vehicle and the three men.
Questions remain decades later
Renee revisits the area where she recalls fleeing from three men who allegedly tried to abduct her when she was 12. She describes the route she took to escape.
The Texas Killing Fields era left many families searching for answers.
Renee’s account offers another perspective on the fear young girls experienced in the region during that time.
Her recollections deserve careful examination. Investigators would need independent evidence to connect her encounter to any other case.
ChopperRose.com continues to examine historical cases, witness accounts and unresolved questions from the Texas Gulf Coast.
My new book, When Two Worlds Collide During WWII, follows two families on opposite sides of World War II and the remarkable events that eventually brought their lives together in Wisconsin.
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Former Manvel Police Chief Keith Traylor is among the officials whose actions are challenged in the federal civil-rights lawsuit.
MANVEL, Texas — Two former Manvel Police Department officers accused their former chief of retaliation just days before city officials proposed his termination.
The Manvel police retaliation complaints raise questions about former Police Chief Keith Traylor’s leadership. They also reveal disputes involving the Manvel Police Association and public-information requests.
Former Police Captain Chris Day filed a complaint on September 3, 2026. Former reserve and part-time officer David Guerrero submitted another complaint the following day.
Both men questioned employment decisions involving Traylor.
Meanwhile, earlier records reveal another dispute over public-information requests involving department employees and critics.
The documents provide new insight into conflicts within the department. However, the complaints do not prove that Traylor violated department policies or retaliated against employees.
Manvel police retaliation complaints target former chief
On August 3, 2025, former Manvel Animal Control Officer John Sherman submitted a complaint concerning a public-information request.
Sherman believed the request targeted him because of an earlier whistleblower complaint.
He identified Day in connection with the disputed request.
However, the records do not establish whether Day acted independently or followed another person’s instructions.
They also do not establish whether anyone used the request for an improper purpose.
Those questions remain important because the records involve both association activities and allegations of retaliation.
Investigators would need additional communications or testimony to determine who authorized the requests.
Did department leadership direct the requests?
Another question concerns Traylor’s possible involvement.
Information provided during this investigation alleges that Traylor pressured Day to seek records about employees and residents who criticized department leadership.
However, the documents reviewed so far do not independently establish that allegation.
They also do not establish whether Traylor directed any specific request.
Day’s account could help clarify the circumstances.
Likewise, Traylor’s response could explain whether he had any involvement.
For now, the available evidence does not support a conclusion about who directed the disputed requests.
City proposes termination days after complaints
A September 10, 2026, notice proposing the termination of Manvel Police Chief Keith Traylor, issued days after complaints were submitted to city officials.
On September 10, 2026, Manvel officials issued a proposed termination notice involving Traylor.
The notice followed Day’s complaint by seven days.
It also came six days after Guerrero submitted his complaint.
However, the timing alone does not establish that either complaint caused the proposed termination.
The available records do not establish which allegations, if any, directly influenced the city’s decision.
Traylor later departed the Manvel Police Department.
Rick Alvarado subsequently assumed interim leadership.
Meanwhile, Traylor moved into an interim civilian administrative role with the Clute Police Department.
The leadership changes followed months of disputes involving department management and employee relations.
What the records establish
The documents identify several significant developments.
First, Day filed a retaliation complaint on September 3, 2026.
Next, Guerrero submitted a separate complaint on September 4.
Earlier records also document Sherman’s concerns about a public-information request in August 2025.
Finally, Manvel officials issued Traylor’s proposed termination notice on September 10, 2026.
Together, these events provide a timeline of internal disputes involving department leadership.
However, several questions remain unanswered.
The available records do not establish whether investigators substantiated the retaliation allegations.
They also do not explain who directed every public-information request.
Furthermore, the documents do not establish whether the separate complaints influenced Traylor’s departure.
Investigation continues
The Manvel police retaliation complaints provide another look at internal conflicts within the department.
They also raise questions about employee treatment, police association activities and department accountability.
However, allegations require evidence before anyone can establish wrongdoing.
Additional records may help explain how city officials investigated the complaints.
They may also clarify whether department leadership influenced the disputed public-information requests.
This investigation remains ongoing.
ChopperRose.com will continue examining public records and reporting verified developments involving Manvel Police Department leadership.
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Newly obtained law-enforcement records reveal more about the employment history of Manvel Interim Police Chief Rick Alvarado.
The records include an investigation involving a county-owned television, concerns uncovered during reviews of a county-issued cellphone, paid administrative leave and Alvarado’s 2020 termination from the Victoria County Sheriff’s Office.
However, the records reviewed do not show that Alvarado was criminally charged in connection with those matters.
Alvarado has now responded in detail.
He disputes some of the conclusions drawn from the records. He also says Manvel had his complete background file before hiring him.
One of the earliest Victoria County records involves a county-owned television.
A February 5, 2019 review says an earlier internal investigation examined the possible theft or misappropriation of a television belonging to the Victoria County Sheriff’s Office.
Capt. Charles Williamson had been assigned to determine whether Alvarado committed a criminal offense or violated department policy.
According to the review, Williamson did not believe there was enough evidence to prove that a criminal offense occurred.
However, Williamson identified two possible policy violations.
Sheriff T. Michael O’Connor later ordered Lt. Will Franklin to review the case again.
Franklin was asked to determine whether investigators had missed additional policy violations or unethical conduct.
The review also included a separate complaint involving Alvarado’s conduct while working as an instructor at the Victoria College Police Academy.
The television investigation also led investigators to review information from a county-issued cellphone or SIM card used by Alvarado.
That review uncovered material investigators considered troubling.
However, investigators said some of that material was not directly related to the television allegation.
Franklin’s 2019 review described repeated personal use of county communications equipment.
Investigators also documented derogatory language and conversations involving anabolic steroids.
Franklin concluded that several incidents violated Victoria County Sheriff’s Office policy.
He also wrote that the conduct did not meet the ethical expectations required of sheriff’s office employees or Texas peace officers.
Alvarado placed on administrative leave
Rick Alvarado, interim chief of the Manvel Police Department.
Another internal investigation began in August 2020.
On August 4, Alvarado was placed on paid administrative leave while investigators reviewed the matter.
The memo ordered him to remain available by phone during normal work hours and prohibited him from acting on behalf of the sheriff’s office while the investigation continued.
Two days later, investigators examined a county-issued iPhone used by Alvarado.
The forensic report documented more than 1,000 chats and more than 5,000 SMS messages.
It also listed tens of thousands of images and thousands of videos.
Investigators reported finding conversations involving substances identified in the report as Endurabol, RAD 140, Testolone, SARMs and testosterone.
The report also described contacts investigators identified as known steroid or drug users, felons or people associated with criminal activity.
Those descriptions came from the sheriff’s office investigation.
They do not, by themselves, establish criminal conduct by Alvarado.
Investigator questioned missing messages
The cellphone examiner also noted something he considered unusual.
According to the report, investigators found call logs between Alvarado and his wife but no direct SMS messages between them.
The investigator wrote that this could indicate the phone had been cleaned before it was surrendered.
However, the report does not establish who may have deleted information or when.
Investigators also noted that some social-media applications had previously been installed but were no longer on the phone.
Victoria County terminated Alvarado
On August 21, 2020, Victoria County Sheriff Justin Marr notified Alvarado that his employment would be terminated.
The termination notice cited misuse of a county-issued cellphone and conduct unbecoming a sheriff’s office employee.
The letter referenced both the earlier investigation and the newer 2020 review.
Among the findings, investigators cited extensive personal use of the county phone.
They also documented derogatory language involving coworkers and ethnic or racial groups.
Other conversations involved strip clubs, alcohol and steroids.
The termination letter also cited contacts with people investigators described as felons or drug users.
In addition, the sheriff’s office cited a February 2018 conversation involving an alleged $11 payment for each police academy cadet Alvarado sent to a nutrition store.
A voicemail recording provided to me during this investigation appears to contain a message from a Katy Police Department representative discussing Alvarado’s application to that department.
The caller says Alvarado interviewed with Katy Police in September 2020.
During the voicemail, the caller says Alvarado was “kind of vague on a couple of IAs” involving the Bay City Police Department.
“So we passed on him,” the caller says.
The caller also says Katy had several strong applicants in that group and therefore did not continue further into Alvarado’s background.
The voicemail also says Katy had a personal history statement completed by Alvarado.
The caller offered to provide a copy of that document.
The recording does not establish that Alvarado made a false statement during the interview.
It does show that questions about his prior internal-affairs history came up during Katy’s hiring process before the department decided not to move forward with him.
Alvarado responds to Bay City investigation
Alvarado also provided more information about a 2008 Bay City internal-affairs investigation.
He says the allegations were unfounded and resulted in no discipline.
According to Alvarado, the complaint came from a man he had previously arrested for assault causing bodily injury involving family violence.
Alvarado says the man later confronted him while he was off duty and tried to provoke a fight.
He says he de-escalated the situation and walked away.
According to Alvarado, the man later tried to hit him with a vehicle and made threats.
Alvarado says independent witnesses supported his version of events.
He says the investigation was then closed without discipline or even verbal counseling.
I am continuing to review records related to that Bay City matter.
2022 disclosure involved Alvarado
Alvarado’s Victoria County employment history later became relevant in a criminal case.
A June 2022 disclosure referenced information connected to the investigation that led to his termination.
The material involved concerns about possible illicit drug use and conduct unbecoming an officer.
Alvarado says he recently reviewed the disclosure connected to Cause Number 20-05-3213-D.
He says the request involved employment records that were available for review by the court.
Alvarado also says he confirmed with the Victoria County District Attorney’s Office that he is not on its “Brady List.”
He says he has testified in several criminal cases since then.
I have not independently confirmed that statement with the Victoria County District Attorney’s Office.
A disclosure of potential impeachment material does not automatically mean an officer committed a crime.
It also does not automatically mean an officer is permanently barred from testifying.
Personnel file also shows positive career history
The newly obtained personnel file contains favorable information about Alvarado as well.
That context matters.
Alvarado joined the Victoria County Sheriff’s Office in August 2014 after previously serving with the Bay City Police Department.
He later became an investigator.
A 2016 performance evaluation described his reports as clearly written and accurate.
The evaluation also noted his work on sexual assault and child sexual-abuse cases.
In addition, Alvarado worked with outside agencies and served as commander of the Victoria County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team.
Records show he earned advanced law-enforcement certifications and accumulated thousands of hours of training.
Therefore, the disciplinary records represent only one part of a much longer law-enforcement career.
Alvarado says Manvel had complete file
Alvarado later joined the Manvel Police Department and eventually moved into executive leadership.
He now serves as Interim Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police.
Alvarado says he was fully open during Manvel’s hiring process.
“The city had my complete background file,” he wrote.
That statement is significant because one of the main questions raised during this investigation was what Manvel knew before hiring and promoting him.
Alvarado says the city had the information.
Alvarado defends leadership record
Alvarado also pointed to his more than 20 years in law enforcement.
He cited experience in investigations, command, tactical operations, training and policy.
He says his leadership approach centers on accountability, transparency and what he described as “Extreme Ownership.”
Alvarado says he has focused on building a professional and accountable police department in Manvel.
He also says he believes public trust and responsible use of public resources are central to his leadership.
Questions still remain
Alvarado’s response answers several important questions.
However, the records still leave areas that warrant additional review.
One question involves what documentation Manvel received during its background investigation.
Another involves whether the city reviewed the Victoria County termination records and later disclosure material.
There is also the question of what Alvarado disclosed to different agencies during separate hiring processes.
The Katy voicemail raises one set of questions.
Alvarado’s statement about being fully transparent with Manvel provides his answer regarding another.
Those two hiring processes occurred at different times and involved different agencies.
Therefore, they should not automatically be treated as contradictory.
The records also show both positive performance history and serious disciplinary findings.
That distinction is important.
Prior investigations alone do not prove that Alvarado is unqualified to lead a police department.
At the same time, when a law-enforcement officer rises to the highest position in a department, the public has an interest in knowing what appears in that officer’s employment history.
The public also has an interest in knowing what city officials reviewed before making that decision.
I am continuing to review records and seek additional documentation.
This story will be updated if new information becomes available.
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The Manvel civil rights lawsuit could be headed toward trial in spring 2027. However, a federal judge must first decide whether the case, or portions of it, can proceed.
Attorney Michael Kerensky confirmed Thursday, October 29, that the judge is reviewing competing motions for summary judgment in Marks v. City of Manvel.
The lawsuit involves allegations of constitutional violations stemming from a Manvel Police Department investigation.
Kerensky said no additional hearings are expected until the judge issues a ruling.
If claims remain for trial, the next court appearance will likely be a docket call to establish a trial schedule.
Although a spring 2027 trial is anticipated, the judge has not set a date.
What is the lawsuit about?
Former Manvel Police Chief Keith Traylor is among the officials whose actions are challenged in the federal civil-rights lawsuit.
The federal lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of Texas, Galveston Division, involves plaintiffs John Marks and Freddie Douglas.
The case challenges actions taken during a Manvel Police Department investigation and raises questions about whether the plaintiffs’ constitutional rights were violated.
Former Manvel Police Chief Keith Traylor is among the officials whose actions have been challenged in the litigation.
The plaintiffs’ claims remain allegations. The court has not made a final determination that the defendants violated anyone’s constitutional rights.
The litigation has involved sworn testimony from individuals connected to the underlying investigation.
Depositions allow attorneys to question witnesses under oath about their actions, knowledge and recollections.
Such testimony can play an important role in determining whether significant factual disputes exist and whether those disputes must be resolved at trial.
The proceedings have also involved questions concerning testimony from law-enforcement and prosecutorial officials.
A March 2026 court ruling addressed an interlocutory appeal related to depositions involving Texas Ranger Aaron Arizmendi and District Attorney Tom Selleck.
That procedural dispute is separate from the summary judgment motions now awaiting a decision.
What is summary judgment?
Both sides have asked the federal court to rule on legal issues before trial.
A motion for summary judgment allows a judge to resolve a claim when there is no genuine dispute over facts material to the decision and the moving party is entitled to judgment under the law.
The judge could dismiss some claims, allow others to proceed or issue a ruling that resolves the case without a trial.
The filing of competing motions does not mean either side has prevailed.
What happens next?
According to Kerensky, the court is not expected to schedule additional hearings until the pending motions are decided.
If claims remain for trial, the next step would likely be a docket call, during which the court could establish a trial schedule.
Kerensky anticipates a possible trial in spring 2027 but emphasized that scheduling is ultimately the judge’s decision.
The case remains unresolved.
Why this case matters
The lawsuit raises questions about the responsibilities of law-enforcement officers during criminal investigations and the constitutional protections afforded to individuals who become subjects of those investigations.
Federal civil-rights lawsuits can examine whether government officials acted within the limits of their legal authority.
However, allegations made in a lawsuit are not proof of misconduct, and the defendants have the opportunity to contest the claims.
The upcoming ruling could determine whether a jury will eventually hear the disputed evidence.
For now, the case remains in the hands of the federal judge.
This is an ongoing investigation. Additional reporting will follow when the court issues its ruling.
My new book, When Two Worlds Collide During WWII, follows two families on opposite sides of World War II and the remarkable events that eventually brought their lives together in Wisconsin.
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A single tip can reopen a cold case, lead investigators to missing evidence, or help a grieving family finally find answers. But what happens when someone knowingly gives police false information?
In Texas, providing false information to police during a criminal investigation can result in criminal charges, fines, and jail time.
Law enforcement agencies rely on witnesses to help solve crimes. Even information that surfaces decades later can be valuable. However, there is a legal difference between an honest mistake and a deliberate attempt to mislead investigators.
What Texas law says about false information to police
Texas Penal Code Section 37.08 addresses false reports made to law enforcement officers and certain investigators.
Under Texas Penal Code Section 37.08, a person commits an offense when they knowingly make a materially false statement to an authorized investigator with the intent to deceive.
The offense is classified as a Class B misdemeanor.
A conviction can carry:
Up to 180 days in county jail. A fine of up to $2,000. Both jail time and a fine.
The law does not require someone to invent an entire crime. A knowingly false statement about an important detail in an investigation may be enough to violate the statute.
What happens when someone makes a false crime report?
Law enforcement investigations require personnel, equipment, and resources. Knowingly false crime reports can divert those resources.
Texas Penal Code Section 42.06 addresses certain false reports involving crimes or emergencies.
A person who knowingly communicates a false or baseless report that meets the statute’s requirements may face a Class A misdemeanor. Certain reports involving schools, public transportation, or essential public services can result in felony charges.
Other laws may apply when false reports trigger dangerous emergency responses.
Why false information can hurt cold case investigations
Search crews excavate an area near a Brazoria County cemetery after new witness information raised questions about the possible location of Rebecca Beard’s remains.
Cold cases often depend on information that surfaces years or even decades after the original investigation.
Witnesses may remember a conversation, recognize a location, or decide to share information they previously withheld.
These tips deserve careful consideration.
But knowingly fabricated information can send investigators in the wrong direction.
It can also consume investigative resources, lead to unnecessary searches, and create false hope for families who have spent years waiting for answers.
When investigators search a property or examine a possible burial site, the information that prompted the search must be evaluated alongside physical evidence and independent corroboration.
A witness statement alone does not establish that a crime occurred at a particular location.
Being mistaken is not the same as lying
An excavation near a Brazoria County cemetery during the renewed search for Rebecca Beard, who disappeared in 1986. Investigators examined the area following new witness information.
This distinction is especially important.
Human memory is imperfect. Details can become unclear over time. Witnesses may confuse dates, locations, or conversations.
An honest mistake does not automatically constitute a criminal offense.
Texas Penal Code Section 37.08 requires proof that a person knowingly made a materially false statement with the intent to deceive.
Investigators must distinguish between inaccurate recollections, misunderstandings, secondhand information, and deliberate deception.
Why witnesses should still come forward
A recreation of the outfit Rebecca “Becky” Beard was reportedly wearing when she vanished in March 1986. Her family continues searching for answers 40 years later.
The possibility of criminal penalties should never discourage someone from reporting information they genuinely believe could help solve a crime.
A witness does not need to have every answer.
Someone may remember a suspicious vehicle, an unusual conversation, or activity near a location connected to an investigation.
Even decades later, that information may be important.
The best approach is to explain exactly what was personally observed, identify information learned from others, and acknowledge uncertainty.
Investigators can then determine whether the information can be independently verified.
The responsibility that comes with reporting a crime
Search crews excavate an area near a Brazoria County cemetery following new witness information in the 1986 disappearance of Rebecca “Becky” Beard.
Families of missing persons and homicide victims deserve answers based on credible evidence.
Investigators deserve truthful information. Witnesses deserve to be heard and treated fairly.
And the public deserves to understand that deliberately misleading law enforcement can carry legal consequences.
Coming forward with information can be an act of courage.
Knowingly inventing information is something entirely different.
The message is simple: If you know something about a crime, speak up. But tell the truth. Someone’s family may be depending on it.
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Nearly 40 years after Rebecca Beard’s murder, a four-hour excavation near a Brazoria County cemetery ended without the discovery of her remains.
The search followed a disturbing claim from a witness who says she watched the 22-year-old woman buried alive in 1986.
While I was in Dubai, a nearby property owner contacted me about repeated visits by retired Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office investigator John Blankenship. The owner also claimed he witnessed suspicious activity in the area around the time Beard disappeared.
Shortly after Blankenship spoke with the property owner, a search took place with assistance from Texas EquuSearch.
According to a source familiar with the operation, nothing was found.
Witness claims she watched Rebecca Beard buried alive
Area near the cemetery identified as a possible burial site in the Rebecca Beard murder investigation.
In January 2026, a woman came forward with a disturbing account of what she claims happened nearly 40 years earlier.
She alleged that she was present the night Beard was killed in March 1986.
According to the witness, she followed the suspects from the Excalibur Club in Freeport to an area near a cemetery.
There, she claims, she watched them bury Beard alive.
The witness identified a possible burial location near the cemetery.
Her allegations remain unverified. No publicly confirmed physical evidence has established that Beard was buried at that location.
Nevertheless, her account brought renewed attention to an area connected to one of Brazoria County’s longest-running murder mysteries.
District attorney’s investigators questioned witness credibility
Recreation showing Rebecca “Becky” Beard wearing clothing similar to what she reportedly wore the night she disappeared in 1986.
Beard’s family later met with representatives of the Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office and investigators to discuss the witness’s allegations.
During a recorded meeting, investigators explained why they did not believe the woman’s account.
They said she had changed parts of her story.
According to investigators, those inconsistencies raised concerns about her credibility.
Despite the witness’s claims, investigators did not consider her account reliable.
However, the question of where Beard’s remains are located remains unanswered.
Property owner contacts reporter about activity near cemetery
Vehicles and search personnel gather near the cemetery following renewed interest in a possible burial location for Rebecca “Becky” Beard.
While I was in Dubai in October 2026, a property owner near the cemetery contacted me about several visits by retired Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office investigator John Blankenship.
The owner said Blankenship had been looking near the area where a witness claimed Rebecca Beard was buried in 1986.
During our conversation, the owner revealed that he had witnessed suspicious activity in the same area around the time Beard disappeared.
However, he said he initially believed the activity might involve satanic rituals or the burial of animals. He had previously noticed activity in the area that led him to that suspicion.
At the time, he did not believe he had witnessed anything connected to a murder. As a result, he never contacted police.
His suspicions remain unverified, and there is no established evidence connecting satanic activity or animal burials to Beard’s murder.
Shortly after Blankenship spoke with the property owner, a search took place near the cemetery.
Four-hour excavation finds nothing
Texas EquuSearch was brought in to assist with the search near the Brazoria County cemetery.
Photographs show excavation equipment removing soil while search personnel carefully examined the ground by hand.
The search focused on an area near where a witness claimed Rebecca Beard was buried alive in 1986.
The operation lasted approximately four hours.
Despite the extensive digging, a source familiar with the search said nothing was found.
Nearly 40 years after Beard’s murder, her remains are still missing.
The latest search has not resolved the questions surrounding her disappearance or the witness’s allegations.
Rebecca Beard disappeared after visiting Freeport nightclub
Rebecca Beard was just 22 years old when she disappeared in March 1986.
She had visited the Excalibur Club in Freeport before vanishing.
Her disappearance left behind a young daughter and a family desperate for answers.
In 1995, Paul Taylor Jr. pleaded guilty to her murder.
However, Beard’s body was never recovered.
Over the years, investigators examined evidence connected to the Excalibur Club and a residence in Clute.
Former investigators also raised questions about evidence discovered during earlier searches.
Despite those investigative efforts, Beard’s remains have never been located.
Family has searched for answers for four decades
For Beard’s mother, Linda Barnes, and sister, Carol Mize, the search has continued for nearly 40 years.
Both have spent decades trying to learn what happened to Becky and where her remains may be.
The latest excavation did not provide the answers they have sought.
Investigators have questioned the cemetery witness’s credibility. The property owner’s account of suspicious activity also remains unverified.
Still, the recent search shows that possible leads continue to emerge decades after Beard’s murder.
The latest excavation raises an important question.
If investigators did not believe the cemetery witness, what prompted renewed interest in the area?
That question remains unanswered.
For Beard’s family, the ultimate goal has not changed.
They want to find Becky and bring her home.
Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose continues investigating the Rebecca Beard murder through public records, interviews, and firsthand accounts. Her documentary, Finding Becky Beard, examines evidence, witness statements, and unanswered questions surrounding the 1986 case. The documentary is available on YouTube.
My new book, When Two Worlds Collide During WWII, follows two families on opposite sides of World War II and the remarkable events that eventually brought their lives together in Wisconsin.
Amazon Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This comes at no additional cost to you.
