Tag Archives: Harris County

Investigations, True Crime

Reinaldo Dennes execution set in $3.5M Houston diamond heist case

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Houston death row inmate set for November execution after $3.5 million diamond heist

By Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose

A Houston capital murder case that began with a multimillion-dollar diamond heist nearly 30 years ago is moving toward an execution.

Harris County court records show Reinaldo Dennes now faces execution on Nov. 19, 2026, at the Huntsville Unit.

The case dates back to Jan. 24, 1996. Prosecutors said Dennes helped carry out a robbery that left Houston jeweler Janos “Johnny” Szucs dead and security guard David Copeland seriously wounded.

The thieves took more than $3.5 million in diamonds and about $200,000 in cash, according to court records.

The diamonds have never been recovered.

Harris County records show execution date

Harris County execution order for Reinaldo Dennes listing a Nov. 19, 2026 execution date
A Harris County court filing lists Nov. 19, 2026, as the execution date for Reinaldo Dennes. Source: Harris County District Clerk.

Court records show prosecutors filed a proposed execution order, death warrant and notice on June 23, 2026.

Those documents listed Nov. 19 as the proposed execution date.

However, the copies filed in June did not contain the judge’s signature.

The Harris County docket later recorded new activity on Aug. 14. Those entries included an execution order, a death warrant and an execution date of Nov. 19, 2026.

The order directs the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to carry out the execution sometime after 6 p.m. in Huntsville.

Dennes has remained eligible for execution since December 2020, according to the state’s filing.

Prosecutors say robbery involved months of planning

Harris County court filing detailing the $3.5 million diamond theft and alleged silencer planning in the Reinaldo Dennes case
A Harris County court filing says more than $3.5 million in diamonds and $200,000 in cash were taken during the 1996 robbery. The filing also describes alleged planning involving a firearm silencer. Source: Harris County District Clerk

The court filing describes a detailed plan that started before the January 1996 robbery.

Prosecutors said Dennes knew Szucs through previous business dealings. Dennes also worked as a jewelry dealer in the same office building as Szucs and Copeland.

According to the filing, co-defendant Francisco Santos Rojos introduced Dennes to Antonio Ramirez.

Prosecutors said Dennes asked Ramirez to build a firearm silencer from a sketch.

Ramirez built the device and later modified it after Dennes complained that it made too much noise, according to the filing.

Court records say Dennes eventually tested the silencer inside his office.

Witness backed out before robbery

The filing says Dennes and his brother, Jose Alberto Dennes, approached Ramirez on Jan. 18, 1996.

Prosecutors said they asked Ramirez to participate in the robbery.

According to the filing, Dennes planned to obtain the surveillance tapes. Ramirez would take the diamonds. Jose Alberto Dennes would shoot the jeweler.

Ramirez realized why Dennes wanted the silencer and asked him to return it, according to the court record.

Dennes refused.

Ramirez later traveled to Ecuador and was outside the country when the robbery happened.

Neither the firearm nor the silencer was ever recovered, according to prosecutors.

Cleaning employee helped provide access

Court records also identify Estrella Martinez as a cleaning employee at the office building.

Prosecutors said Martinez had a romantic relationship with Dennes.

The filing says Martinez agreed to allow Dennes and his brother into the building through a loading dock entrance after business hours.

Dennes bought Martinez a cell phone so he could tell her when to open the door and when to distract the security guard, prosecutors said.

The filing says Dennes warned Martinez that he would have to shoot the guard if she failed to distract him.

Prosecutors said Dennes postponed the robbery for two days before moving forward on the third day.

Security guard survived shooting

Security guard David Copeland later testified about the attack.

According to the filing, Dennes approached Copeland and told him, “I have something I want to show you.”

Prosecutors said Dennes then shot Copeland in the chest.

After Copeland fell, Dennes shot him again in the back.

Copeland survived but suffered partial paralysis.

The filing says Copeland later heard sounds consistent with someone removing video recording equipment from the security booth.

Jeweler found dead with five gunshot wounds

Police later found Szucs dead inside his seventh-floor office.

Court records say he suffered five gunshot wounds.

Investigators found no signs of forced entry.

When authorities opened Szucs’ safe, they discovered the diamonds and roughly $200,000 in cash missing.

The filing also says Szucs regularly wore a five-carat pinky ring.

That ring disappeared too.

Investigators never recovered it.

Prosecutors said the stolen diamonds would equal approximately $7.2 million today when adjusted for inflation.

Ballistics evidence connected the shootings

Harris County court filing detailing ballistics evidence, missing diamonds and cash in the Reinaldo Dennes capital murder case
Harris County court records say Janos Szucs was found with five gunshot wounds and that investigators linked bullets and shell casings to the same firearm. The filing also says $3.5 million in diamonds, $200,000 in cash and a five-carat pinky ring were missing. Source: Harris County District Clerk.

Investigators recovered shell casings from the building lobby, a field between Dennes’ home and the office building, and other locations.

A firearms examiner concluded that bullets recovered from Szucs, Dennes’ office and the lobby came from the same firearm, according to the filing.

The weapon was either a Taurus or Beretta 9mm handgun.

Police later searched Dennes’ office.

Officers found either a Taurus 9mm semiautomatic handgun or an owner’s manual for one, according to the court record.

Prosecutors also used landline and cell phone records to support testimony from Ramirez and Martinez.

Dennes left Texas after the killing

The filing says Dennes and his brother traveled to Florida after the crime.

They later went to the Dominican Republic for several days.

Prosecutors also said Dennes bought a new sports car shortly after the killing.

Prosecutors told jury about earlier diamond robbery plot

The court filing also describes another robbery plot from November 1995.

Prosecutors said Dennes targeted diamond courier Albert Ohayon.

Dennes allegedly knew Ohayon through previous employment and believed he would carry between $500,000 and $1 million in diamonds.

Two men recruited for the robbery entered the wrong house, according to the filing.

They invaded the home of another family instead.

The filing says the men terrorized a couple and their 9-year-old daughter for about two and a half hours before fleeing with property and the family’s vehicle.

Jury convicted Dennes of capital murder

A Harris County jury convicted Dennes of capital murder on Aug. 28, 1997.

Court records show the trial judge sentenced him to death on Sept. 4, 1997.

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals later affirmed the conviction and sentence.

Dennes continued to challenge his conviction through state and federal courts.

The state’s 2026 filing says reviewing courts found no due process violations that blocked his execution.

Nearly $4 million in diamonds and cash still missing

The execution date closes one chapter in a case that has remained active for decades.

One mystery remains.

Investigators never recovered the more than $3.5 million in diamonds taken from Szucs’ safe.

They also never recovered his five-carat pinky ring.

Dennes is scheduled for execution on Nov. 19, 2026, in Huntsville.

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Breaking News, Investigations, Texas Cold Cases, True Crime

Former Deputy Kent McGowen Responds to Susan White 911 Call

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Watch the Full Investigation

Former Deputy Kent McGowen Responds to Susan White 911 Call, Allegations Before 1992 Shooting

By Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose

More than three decades after the fatal shooting of Susan White, former Harris County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Kent McGowen is publicly responding to allegations White made before the shooting, including claims she voiced during calls to 911.

In an exclusive interview with Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose, McGowen discussed the August 25, 1992 shooting, disputed allegations that he sexually harassed White, addressed why she repeatedly mentioned his name and shared courtroom demonstration photographs that he says support his version of events.

The interview pairs portions of White’s 911 call with McGowen’s current account, allowing readers to compare both versions of events.

Viewer Note: This story contains discussion of a fatal officer-involved shooting and includes portions of a 911 call that some readers may find disturbing.

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Kent McGowen in his U.S. Air Force dress uniform before beginning his law enforcement career.
Before entering law enforcement, Kent McGowen served in the U.S. Air Force. He later worked as a Houston police officer and Harris County deputy before the Aug. 25, 1992, fatal shooting of Susan White that led to two criminal trials and his eventual conviction.

Background Before the Case

Before beginning his law enforcement career, Kent McGowen served in the United States Air Force.

After leaving the military, he joined the Houston Police Department before later serving with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. During his career, he received commendations and officer recognition awards.

Houston Police Department identification card issued to Joseph K. McGowen in 1987.
After serving in the U.S. Air Force, Kent McGowen joined the Houston Police Department before later serving with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.

Before beginning his law enforcement career, Kent McGowen served in the United States Air Force.

After leaving the military, he joined the Houston Police Department before later serving with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. During his career, he received commendations and officer recognition awards.

McGowen’s career changed forever on August 25, 1992, when deputies serving a felony warrant fatally shot Susan White at her home.

A jury convicted McGowen of murder in his first trial. An appellate court later overturned that conviction. A second jury convicted him in 2002. He ultimately served approximately 19 years in prison before his release in 2021.

Book About the Case

Journalist Jerry Langton later examined the case in Reasonable Doubts: How Rumor and Innuendo Convicted Deputy Kent McGowen of Murder. The book explores the investigation, the two trials and McGowen’s conviction.

Read the book on Amazon: 

Reasonable Doubts

Additional Case Materials

In addition to the trial record, Kent McGowen has provided investigative records and expert reports that he says support his account of the shooting.

Among the records McGowen provided is a forensic review by consulting forensic scientist Dr. Edward E. Hueske.

Hueske prepared the review during McGowen’s legal proceedings.

McGowen also provided a statement he wrote at the request of Harris County Assistant District Attorney Baldwin Chin, then chief of the Harris County District Attorney’s Office Post Conviction Integrity Review Unit, during the office’s review of his case in 2011–2012.

According to McGowen, the statement summarizes the case and his account of events as they existed during the Harris County District Attorney’s Office Post Conviction Integrity Review in 2011-2012.

CSI Dr Hueske ReportDownload
Texas Department of Criminal Justice offender identification card for Joseph Kent McGowen during his incarceration.
After two criminal trials stemming from the Aug. 25, 1992, fatal shooting of Susan White, Kent McGowen was ultimately convicted of murder. He served approximately 19 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice before his release in 2021.

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Watch the Full Investigation

The television report below includes exclusive interview excerpts with Kent McGowen, courtroom demonstration photographs and additional background on the Susan White case.

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Listen to Susan White’s 911 Call

The audio below captures one of Susan White’s calls to 911 before deputies entered her home.

During the recording, White repeatedly asks dispatchers for help and expresses fear as deputies remain outside the residence.

The call contains emotional language and may be disturbing to some listeners.

Susan White 911 CallDownload

Susan White’s 911 Call Before Deputies Entered The Home

The video and audio above include one of Susan White’s 911 calls before deputies entered the home.

During the recording, White repeatedly asks dispatchers for help while describing people outside her home.

The recording contains emotional language that some listeners may find disturbing.

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McGowen Strongly Disputes White’s Allegations

Vintage photograph of Kent McGowen in a Waller County Sheriff’s Office uniform standing beside a marked patrol vehicle while serving with the department before joining the Houston Police Department.
Kent McGowen while serving with the Waller County Sheriff’s Office at age 19, before joining the Houston Police Department pending completion of his background investigation.

During his interview with Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose, McGowen firmly denied White’s allegations.

According to McGowen, he never sexually harassed White, never stalked her and never had the repeated contacts she described.

“I had never pulled her over. I’d never spoken to her,” McGowen said during the interview.

McGowen believes White confused him with another deputy who previously worked in the area.

He told Tammy Rose that investigators later uncovered witness statements he believes support that explanation.

According to McGowen, White mistakenly identified him after seeing him during the arrest of her son and others connected to a burglary investigation.

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Why Did White Know McGowen’s Name?

Portrait of Susan White, whose repeated references to former Harris County Precinct 4 Deputy Kent McGowen before the 1992 shooting are discussed in this section of the investigation.
Susan White. Investigators and former Deputy Kent McGowen have offered differing explanations for why White repeatedly mentioned his name before the August 25, 1992, shooting.

One of the questions surrounding the case is why White repeatedly mentioned McGowen by name before the shooting.

McGowen offered his explanation during the interview.

He said White arrived at the scene after deputies arrested her son and began asking officers who “McGowen” was.

According to McGowen, several deputies pointed in different directions while trying to identify him, causing White to approach multiple officers before eventually speaking with him.

McGowen believes that encounter explains why she later knew his name.

He disputes claims that he had an ongoing personal conflict with White before the shooting.

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McGowen Says White Mistook Him for Another Deputy

McGowen also challenged allegations that he repeatedly stopped or harassed White before the shooting.

Instead, he told Tammy Rose that another deputy had previous contact with White and believes she mistakenly associated him with those earlier encounters.

McGowen said he never received phone calls from White, never contacted her outside official duties and never had a personal relationship with her.

He also pointed to subpoenaed telephone records that he says failed to show communication between them.

Those statements reflect McGowen’s account. Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose continues reviewing court records, witness statements and other documents connected to the case.

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McGowen’s Description of White’s Condition

McGowen also discussed White’s condition while deputies attempted to serve the warrant.

According to McGowen, White appeared to be slurring her speech as deputies tried to communicate with her through the front door.

He told Tammy Rose he believed White was impaired and described her behavior as confused and erratic.

McGowen said those observations influenced how he interpreted her actions that morning.

His statements represent his account of the encounter and should not be interpreted as independent findings of fact.

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The Warrant That Led to the Shooting

Composite image showing Michael Shaffer (left), Susan White (center), and Jason Aguilar, Linda White’s teenage son (right).
Left to right: Confidential informant Michael Shaffer, Susan White and Jason Aguillard, Susan White’s teenage son.

According to McGowen, deputies went to Susan White’s home to serve a felony retaliation warrant after investigators alleged she threatened a confidential informant connected to a burglary investigation.

McGowen said he first attempted to obtain the warrant during the overnight hours but claimed a judge was unavailable to sign it. He returned the following morning with the approved warrant and several deputies to serve it.

He told Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose that deputies knocked on the front door for several minutes, repeatedly identified themselves as members of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office and asked White to come outside.

According to McGowen, White refused to open the door.

McGowen said deputies eventually forced entry after obtaining permission from a supervisor.

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McGowen Describes What Happened Inside

According to McGowen, deputies entered the home and began clearing rooms while searching for White.

He told Tammy Rose he saw White move through the house toward a bedroom. He followed her and said she picked up a handgun after entering the room.

McGowen said he ordered White three times to drop the weapon.

He claims White raised the handgun toward him and began placing her finger on the trigger.

Believing his life and the lives of the other deputies were in danger, McGowen fired three shots.

He has consistently maintained that he acted in self-defense.

Prosecutors disputed that version of events during both criminal trials.

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Courtroom Demonstration Photos

Courtroom demonstration photographs provided by Kent McGowen showing his account of the Aug. 25, 1992, shooting of Susan White.

Former deputy Kent McGowen recently provided Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose with these courtroom demonstration photographs, which he says were used during legal proceedings to illustrate his version of the Aug. 25, 1992, fatal shooting of Susan White. The images reflect McGowen’s account and are presented for context alongside court records, the 911 call, and his interview.

McGowen recently provided Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose with courtroom demonstration photographs that he says were used during legal proceedings to explain his version of the shooting.

Several photographs include handwritten descriptions showing where McGowen says he was standing, where White was positioned and where he believes the handgun came to rest after the shooting.

Other images illustrate the angle from which he says he observed White inside the bedroom.

The photographs are not crime scene photographs. Instead, they are courtroom demonstrations created to illustrate McGowen’s account during litigation.

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One Issue Continues to Draw Attention

One issue discussed during Tammy Rose’s interview involved which hand White used to hold the handgun.

McGowen maintains White pointed the weapon with her right hand before he fired.

During the interview, Tammy Rose asked McGowen about reports indicating White was left-handed.

McGowen stood by his account and said the position of the handgun after the shooting matched what he remembered seeing inside the bedroom.

That issue remains one of several points that have been debated for years.

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McGowen Says Jurors Never Heard Everything

During the interview, McGowen repeatedly argued that jurors never heard all of the evidence he believes supports his account.

He pointed to witness statements, subpoenaed records and other documents that he says were unavailable or never fully presented during trial.

McGowen also criticized how the case was investigated and prosecuted.

Those claims have not been independently verified by Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose and remain part of McGowen’s account of the case.

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Two Trials, Two Different Juries

The Susan White case was presented to two different juries.

McGowen’s first murder conviction was later overturned on appeal, resulting in a new trial.

Following that second trial, another jury convicted McGowen of murder in 2002.

He ultimately served approximately 19 years in prison before his release in 2021.

Since leaving prison, McGowen has continued speaking publicly about the shooting and maintains he acted lawfully while serving the warrant.

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Why Revisit the Susan White Case Now?

More than 30 years after the shooting, Kent McGowen continues to challenge the conclusions reached during his criminal case.

Since his release from prison in 2021, he has participated in interviews, worked with author Jerry Langton on a book about his case and continues to review court records and investigative documents.

His recent interview with Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose offers readers an opportunity to hear his account in his own words while comparing those statements with court records, courtroom exhibits and the 911 call placed by Susan White.

As with any decades-old criminal case, many questions remain disputed.

Tammy Rose will continue reviewing court records, witness statements and other documents connected to the investigation as additional records become available.

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Editor’s Note: This article includes court records, historical documents, portions of Susan White’s 911 call, and an interview with Joseph Kent McGowen. McGowen disputes allegations made against him before the shooting. The interview is presented so readers can review his response in full.

More Kent McGowen Coverage

This interview is part of an ongoing investigative series examining Kent McGowen’s criminal case and new claims he has made since his release from prison.

Readers can also follow Tammy Rose’s continuing investigation into McGowen’s allegations involving convicted serial killer Roy Alan Stuart.

Related Coverage

➡️ Former Deputy Documents Alleged Roy Alan Stuart Confessions

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If you’re interested in learning more about wrongful convictions, criminal investigations and true crime, these books provide additional background.

➡️ The Cadaver King and the Country Dentist

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➡️ In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

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About Tammy Rose Reports

Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose is an independent journalist covering breaking news, aviation and long-form investigations across Texas.

If you appreciate independent journalism, consider bookmarking ChopperRose.com for continuing coverage.

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Carolyn Sosa, Investigations, Texas Cold Cases, Texas Killing Fields, True Crime

Carolyn Sosa’s Daughter Speaks Out as New Documents and Roy Alan Stuart Prison Confession Claims Renew Calls for Review

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Carolyn Sosa portrait in a decorative silver frame shared by her family as part of the investigation into her 1987 murder.

For nearly 40 years, Donna Sanchez has searched for answers about what happened to her mother, Carolyn Sosa.

After Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose reached out during an ongoing investigation into former Harris County deputy Kent McGowen’s prison diaries and Roy Alan Stuart’s alleged prison confessions, Donna shared family memories, court records and historical documents she hopes could help bring renewed attention to her mother’s unsolved murder.

“I was seven years old when my mother died,” Donna said. “She was strangled and thrown into Bastrop Bayou.”

Carolyn Sosa holding her young daughter Donna Sanchez in a family photograph taken before Carolyn’s 1987 disappearance.

Carolyn Sosa Case

After speaking with Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose, Donna Sanchez shared family memories, court records, historical documents, newspaper articles, and text messages related to the Carolyn Sosa investigation.

Donna believes Roy Alan Stuart murdered her mother, Carolyn Sosa, and hopes the records contribute to another review of the case.

Some of the historical records overlap with information gathered during this investigation, including details Kent McGowen says Roy Alan Stuart shared while the two were incarcerated together. Readers can review the original source documents below and draw their own conclusions.

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Who Was Carolyn Sosa?

Carolyn Sosa in a red blouse in a family photograph taken before her disappearance in March 1987.

Carolyn Sosa was 33 years old when she disappeared in March 1987. Investigators believe she was last seen leaving Houston’s LaMonte Hotel.

Her body was later found in shallow water near Bastrop Bayou off FM 2004.

Investigators also believed Carolyn had information about the earlier killing of Terri Denise McDaniels.

Historical investigative records state investigators found Carolyn Sosa’s fingerprints and hair inside Roy Alan Stuart’s vehicle.

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Historical Court Records

The gallery below contains historical court records, newspaper articles, and investigative documents related to the Carolyn Sosa homicide investigation and Roy Alan Stuart. Readers can review the original source material and examine the records in their historical context.

Gallery image showing historical investigative records and article excerpts discussing Roy Alan Stuart, including references to Carolyn Sosa’s case and historical investigative findings.

Donna Sanchez shared court records showing Roy Alan Stuart was arrested in Carolyn Sosa’s murder. The murder charge was later dismissed.

Donna said investigators told her family they collected fingerprints, hair evidence, blood evidence, and skin reportedly found beneath Carolyn Sosa’s fingernails.

“My mom was small, but she was a fighter,” Donna told Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose.

Donna hopes someone will finally answer what happened to her mother.

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Matt Wingo’s Text Messages About Carolyn Sosa

Screenshot of a July 13, 2023 text message from former Brazoria County investigator Matt Wingo discussing Roy Alan Stuart and historical investigative details.

Former Brazoria County investigator Matt Wingo exchanged text messages with Kent McGowen in July 2023.

One message states Carolyn Sosa fought Roy Alan Stuart during the attack.

Wingo wrote investigators built a homicide case using fingerprints, hair, and blood evidence.

He also wrote the murder case was dismissed after an HPD officer allegedly assaulted Stuart during his arrest.

Another message states Wingo believed Roy Alan Stuart could be connected to at least 14 killings.

Wingo also wrote then-Brazoria County District Attorney Tom Selleck wanted investigators to review Kent McGowen’s records.

These statements reflect Wingo’s account. Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose has not independently verified every statement beyond available court records.

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Kent McGowen Says Roy Alan Stuart Confessed

Exclusive graphic featuring Roy Alan Stuart’s mugshot with the text “Roy Alan Stuart” and “Died on May 10, 2019.

Former Harris County deputy Kent McGowen met Roy Alan Stuart while both were incarcerated at the Duncan Unit.

McGowen said Stuart openly discussed kidnapping and murdering women.

He said Stuart described picking up a Black woman near Telephone Road during rodeo season.

McGowen said Stuart claimed he tried to strangle her with a seat belt before shooting her twice with a .22-caliber pistol.

McGowen also said Stuart claimed a fisherman witnessed the killing from a nearby boat.

After reviewing historical records, McGowen believed Stuart was describing Carolyn Sosa’s murder.

Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose has not independently verified McGowen’s account.

Roy Alan Stuart Died Before the Investigation Was Complete

McGowen said he documented Stuart’s statements while they were incarcerated together and later prepared formal reports detailing the alleged confessions.

According to McGowen, he submitted those reports in 2019 to multiple agencies, including the Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office, Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office, Galveston County District Attorney’s Office, Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Houston Police Department and the FBI.

Roy Alan Stuart died on May 10, 2019, while serving a life sentence in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

His death came shortly after McGowen said he had notified multiple law enforcement agencies about Stuart’s alleged confessions.

Can the Carolyn Sosa Case Be Reopened?

Yes.

Under Texas law, there is no statute of limitations for murder.

Although Roy Alan Stuart is deceased and can no longer be prosecuted, investigators may reopen a homicide investigation if new evidence, witnesses, historical documents or advances in forensic science justify another review.

A reopened investigation could include re-examining physical evidence using modern DNA testing, interviewing surviving witnesses, reviewing investigative files, or comparing historical evidence with newly discovered information.

If investigators conclude the evidence supports it, they can publicly identify a deceased suspect as responsible for a homicide even though criminal prosecution is no longer possible.

What’s Next in the Carolyn Sosa Case?

Nearly 40 years after Carolyn Sosa’s murder, her family continues searching for answers.

Whether the Carolyn Sosa investigation is officially reopened will ultimately be decided by law enforcement.

However, newly shared family records, historical court documents, Matt Wingo’s text messages, Kent McGowen’s prison interview and previously submitted investigative reports have renewed attention on one of the Gulf Coast’s long-unsolved homicide investigations.

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Editor’s Note: This article includes newly obtained court records, historical investigative documents, text messages, and interviews gathered during an ongoing investigation by Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose. Statements attributed to former Harris County deputy Kent McGowen are based on his interview and prison diaries describing alleged confessions made by Roy Alan Stuart while the two were incarcerated together. Statements attributed to former investigator Matt Wingo are based on text messages reviewed by Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose. Court records confirm Roy Alan Stuart was arrested in Carolyn Sosa’s homicide before the charge was dismissed. Some claims discussed in this article remain unverified or disputed. The purpose of this report is to present the available records, document new information provided by Carolyn Sosa’s family, and examine whether the case merits renewed investigative review.

Recommended Reading

• The Cases That Haunt Us: From Jack the Ripper to JonBenét Ramsey

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• I’ll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer

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Related Investigation

Related: Former Harris County Deputy Kent McGowen’s Prison Diaries and Roy Alan Stuart’s Alleged Prison Confessions

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Breaking News, Investigations, Rebecca Beard, Texas Cold Cases, Texas Killing Fields, True Crime

Investigator Matt Wingo Responds to Roy Alan Stuart Story, Raises Questions About Prison Journals

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Matt Wingo response to Roy Alan Stuart investigation showing July 2023 text messages, Kent McGowen prison diaries and Roy Alan Stuart mugshot.

Investigator Matt Wingo Raises Questions About Roy Alan Stuart Prison Journal Story

Before publishing my interview with former Harris County deputy Kent McGowen and his handwritten prison journals about convicted serial killer Roy Alan Stuart, I contacted investigator Matt Wingo seeking an interview and comment.

I did not receive an interview before my publication deadline.

After the story was published, Wingo text messaged and emailed me several times expressing concerns about the accuracy of information contained in McGowen’s journals. Although one of his text messages stated he did not want further contact, he continued sending additional emails outlining what he believes are significant factual problems.

Why I Reported the Story the Way I Did

The messages document that Wingo and McGowen communicated. They do not independently establish that every claim discussed in those communications is accurate.

July 13, 2023 text message exchange between investigator Matt Wingo and former Harris County deputy Kent McGowen discussing Roy Alan Stuart, an estimated homicide count, and follow-up on investigative records.
July 13, 2023 text message exchange between investigator Matt Wingo and former Harris County deputy Kent McGowen discussing Roy Alan Stuart, an estimated homicide count, and follow-up on investigative records.

July 13, 2023 text message exchange between investigator Matt Wingo and former Harris County deputy Kent McGowen discussing Roy Alan Stuart. The messages include discussion of an estimated homicide count and references to reviewing additional investigative records.

One issue readers should understand is the homicide count.

Before publication, I had seen a July 2023 message between Wingo and McGowen in which Wingo wrote:

“I have him killing 14 but that’s light, what we know about.”

However, because I was unable to interview Wingo before publication, I did not feel it was appropriate to publish his estimate as fact without giving him the opportunity to explain how he reached that number.

Instead, I reported what Kent McGowen told me during my interview and clearly identified him as the source of those statements. Throughout my reporting, I repeatedly noted that many of the claims contained in McGowen’s journals remain unverified.

Editor’s Note – July 10, 2026

After Investigator Matt Wingo contacted me to point out factual errors in my original article, I reexamined Kent McGowen’s original handwritten journals. During that review, I determined that I had misinterpreted several entries involving investigator communications. The journals document communications between Kent McGowen and investigators—including letters, telephone calls, emails, text messages and other correspondence. Upon reexamining the journals, I determined I had incorrectly interpreted some entries as documenting in-person meetings as I had previously interpreted.

The underlying claims in this article remain attributed to Kent McGowen’s interview and handwritten journals unless otherwise noted. As with the original publication, these allegations have not been independently verified by this news organization.

Additional Documents Reviewed

Composite image showing excerpts from Kent McGowen’s handwritten prison journals documenting communications with investigators regarding Roy Alan Stuart.

Excerpts from Kent McGowen’s original handwritten prison journals referencing communications with investigators and agencies regarding information he said Roy Alan Stuart shared while they were incarcerated together.

In addition to the handwritten journals, I also reviewed text messages, emails, and other communications exchanged between Matt Wingo and Kent McGowen regarding Roy Alan Stuart as part of this reporting.

The Questions That Remain

Several important questions remain unanswered.

Which Texas Ranger or Rangers were referenced in McGowen’s journals?

Can the journal entries regarding investigator communications be independently corroborated through public records or other witnesses?

Which portions of the journals can be independently verified?

Which claims cannot currently be verified?

Are there additional public records that support or contradict McGowen’s account?

I intend to continue reporting on these questions as more information becomes available.

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More Resources

If stories about cold cases, victims, and investigative journalism matter to you, these books and reports may also be helpful.

📚 The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk

📚 While the City Slept by Eli Sanders

📰 Read my original investigation:

Exclusive: Roy Alan Stuart Prison Confessions Revealed

Why I Fight So Hard for Victims: The Story I’ve Never Shared

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Breaking News, Investigations

Two Deadly West Houston Crashes Shut Down I-10 and Highway 6

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Overturned 18-wheeler and emergency crews at a deadly crash on Interstate 10 inbound near Highway 6 in west Houston.
Emergency crews respond after a deadly crash involving an 18-wheeler on Interstate 10 inbound near Highway 6 in west Houston. Photo: Tammy Rose 

Two Deadly Crashes Snarl Traffic Across West Houston

Two deadly crashes kept first responders busy across west Houston Wednesday morning, shutting down major roadways and creating long traffic delays.

The first crash happened around 5 a.m. on the inbound lanes of Interstate 10 near Eldridge Parkway.

According to authorities, an 18-wheeler and another vehicle collided, causing a fire. Two people died at the scene.

Investigators closed all inbound lanes near Dairy Ashford while crews worked to clear the wreckage. Traffic backed up for several miles, stretching toward Kingsland Boulevard during the morning commute.

Police pursuit ends in fatal Highway 6 crash

Emergency crews investigate a deadly crash following a police pursuit on southbound Highway 6 near the Westpark Tollway in west Houston. Photo: Tammy Rose Reports.
Emergency crews investigate a deadly crash following a police pursuit on southbound Highway 6 near the Westpark Tollway in west Houston. Photo: Tammy Rose 

A second deadly crash occurred on Highway 6 southbound near the Westpark Tollway.

Photos from the scene show heavy damage to both an HPD patrol vehicle and another vehicle following what authorities described as the end of a police pursuit.

Officials confirmed the incident was fatal. Based on available information, the deceased was not the Houston police officer. Authorities have not yet released additional details about the person who died or the events leading up to the crash.

The investigation remained active as officers documented the scene and worked to reopen the roadway.

Investigation continues

Authorities continue investigating both crashes. Additional information, including the identities of those involved, is expected after next-of-kin notifications and the completion of the preliminary investigations.

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