Tag Archives: Texas Public Information Act

Investigations, Rebecca Beard, Texas Cold Cases, True Crime

Texas Public Information Act Request: Dash Camera Released, Body Camera Pending

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Raw dash camera image released through a Texas Public Information Act request showing a Brazoria County sheriff’s deputy speaking with individuals during a May 11, 2026 encounter related to the Rebecca Beard investigation.
Screenshot from the dash camera video released by Brazoria County in response to a Texas Public Information Act request. The recording contains no audio. The requested body camera video remains pending while the Texas Attorney General reviews whether it may be withheld.

Texas Public Information Act Request Leads to Dash Camera Release While Body Camera Remains Under Review

The Brazoria County Criminal District Attorney’s Office released the dash camera recording in response to my Texas Public Information Act request. The responding deputy’s body camera recording remains under review by the Texas Attorney General.

Redactions LetterDownload

Page one of the Brazoria County Criminal District Attorney’s Office response confirming my public information request, payment, and the release of the dash camera recording while the requested body camera recording remains under review by the Texas Attorney General.

By Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose

Transparency matters. That is why I filed a Texas Public Information Act request after an encounter with a woman connected to the Rebecca Beard investigation.

The request resulted in sheriff’s reports, dispatch records, redacted documents, and dash camera video. However, one important record remains unavailable. The Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office has asked the Texas Attorney General to decide whether the responding deputy’s body camera can be withheld.

This article explains what happened, what the released records show, and why I continue to seek the body camera recording.

Why I Went to the Property

As an investigative reporter, I believe everyone deserves an opportunity to comment before publication.

I went to Cherie “Rio” Starr’s residence to request an interview about statements she has made regarding the Rebecca Beard investigation.

She declined to comment.

According to the incident report, Starr told deputies she was a protected witness and wanted to know how I obtained her personal information.

The report also states she believed someone had sent me to her property.

I Returned to My Jeep

After Starr declined to comment, I walked back to my Jeep because I intended to leave.

According to the sheriff’s report, I told deputies that Starr and Kenneth Cadenhead prevented me from leaving the property.

The dashcam video released by Brazoria County contains no audio. Therefore, it cannot capture the conversations that occurred during the encounter.

However, the video does show Starr standing near my driver’s side while Cadenhead remained behind my Jeep during part of the incident.

According to my recollection, both were asking me to identify my confidential source.

I declined.

Why I Would Not Reveal My Source

The incident report notes that I refused to identify my source.

That decision was intentional.

Protecting confidential sources is a long-standing practice in investigative journalism. Sources often provide information only because they trust reporters to keep their identities confidential.

My purpose that day was to request an interview. It was not to disclose who provided information for my reporting.

A Detail Not Included in the Report

One part of the encounter is not reflected in the written incident report.

According to my recollection, while standing near my driver’s side door, Starr told me she would agree to an interview “when this is all over.”

She also indicated that the Rebecca Beard investigation remained an active case that had never been closed.

Because the released dashcam has no audio, viewers cannot hear that conversation.

For that reason, I continue to seek release of the responding deputy’s body camera recording.

What the Public Records Show

My Texas Public Information Act request produced several records, including:

Sheriff’s incident reports
Dispatch and CAD records
Dashcam video
Redacted documents

The only major record that has not been released is the deputy’s body camera.

The District Attorney’s Office has asked the Texas Attorney General to determine whether that recording may be withheld under the Texas Public Information Act.

Receiving a request for an Attorney General ruling does not automatically mean the recording will never be released. The Attorney General will determine whether any exceptions to disclosure apply under Texas law.

How I Obtained the Records

Many people ask how to request police records in Texas.

In my case, I submitted a Texas Public Information Act request to Brazoria County.

After receiving a cost estimate, I paid the required fee at the Brazoria County Treasurer’s Office inside the courthouse.

The courthouse is beautiful, although locating the correct office can be a little confusing for first-time visitors.

After payment was processed, I went to the District Attorney’s Office to pick up the responsive records.

Everyone I dealt with during the process was courteous and helpful.

I also received more records than I expected.

Part Two Is Coming Soon

In Part Two, I will explain the Texas Public Information Act process step by step.

I will also show:

How to submit an open records request
Where to pay the required fees
How to pick up responsive records
Why some records are released immediately while others require a ruling from the Texas Attorney General

Understanding the process can help anyone request public records in Texas.

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

Why I Tracked Down Rebecca Beard Witness Cherie “Rio” Starr

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Thumbnail for an investigative news article titled “Why I Tracked Down Rebecca Beard Witness Cherie ‘Rio’ Starr.” The image features investigative reporter Tammy Rose alongside a Texas DPS missing persons bulletin for Rebecca Beard, a folder labeled “Rebecca Beard Case File,” and text referencing the Rebecca Beard investigation, including “Two Shooters,” “Duck Hunting Box,” “Disposal of Remains,” and “Body Cam Video Requested.”
Thumbnail for my investigation into why I tracked down Rebecca Beard witness Cherie “Rio” Starr and the questions her account raises about one of Brazoria County’s longest-running cold cases.

When I interviewed Rebecca Beard’s sister, Carol Mize, I expected to learn more about the ongoing search for Becky’s remains and the questions that still surround the case.

Paul Taylor Jr. pleaded guilty to Rebecca Beard’s murder in 1995. However, Becky’s body has never been found.

Side-profile photograph of Rebecca Beard wearing a red and white top and gold hoop earrings while looking over her shoulder. The image appears in an investigative article discussing new information shared by Rebecca Beard’s sister, Carol Mize, about the case.
A photograph of Rebecca Beard featured alongside new details shared by her sister, Carol Mize, during an interview about the investigation and the questions that continue to surround Becky’s disappearance.

Instead of discussing only the search, Carol shared details from a witness deposition that stopped me in my tracks.

The witness, Cherie “Rio” Starr, described two shooters, a duck hunting box, and an alleged effort to conceal Becky’s remains.

Some of those claims appeared to overlap with information that had been discussed publicly over the years. Other claims seemed extraordinary.

I did not know what to believe.

As a journalist, I knew I had to ask the witness my own questions.

Watch Carol Mize’s chilling interview about the alleged duck box.

Why I Decided to Find Cherie Starr

One question stayed with me.

If someone witnessed what Starr later described in her deposition, why wait decades to report it?

I also wanted to know whether investigators could verify any part of her account.

Rebecca’s family believed her allegations deserved to be investigated. I wanted to hear directly from the person making those claims.

That is what journalists do.

We ask questions.

Why I Waited to Tell This Story

When I knocked on Starr’s door, her identity had not been made public.

Because of that, I chose not to report her name or write about what happened that day.

I believed that was the fair and responsible decision.

Since then, Rebecca’s family has publicly discussed Starr. Brazoria County District Attorney Tom Selleck told the family that investigators do not currently consider her a credible witness.

That announcement could affect future investigative steps, including whether authorities continue searching locations connected to Starr’s allegations.

Now readers deserve to understand why I went looking for her in the first place.

What Carol Mize Told Me

Carol described allegations that were difficult to forget.

According to Carol, Starr claimed Becky was shot by two different people using two different guns.

Carol also said Starr described a duck hunting box and an alleged attempt to move and hide Becky’s remains.

The allegations were graphic.

If true, they could have changed the direction of the investigation.

They also raised obvious questions.

Why did no one hear this story for decades?

Why had the witness waited so long to come forward?

Those were the questions I wanted to ask.

Knocking on Doors Is Part of Journalism

During more than 30 years as a reporter, I have knocked on hundreds of doors.

Sometimes people answer questions.

Sometimes they decline.

Sometimes they close the door.

That is part of investigative journalism.

I introduced myself and asked Cherie Starr if she would answer a few questions about the Rebecca Beard case.

She told me she had no comment.

I thanked her and walked back to my Jeep.

What Happened When I Knocked on Cherie Starr’s Door

Screenshot from an article showing a redacted Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office criminal trespass warning issued to investigative reporter Tammy Rose after attempting to contact Rebecca Beard witness Cherie “Rio” Starr. The image also notes that a public records request was submitted for the deputies’ body camera video documenting the encounter.
After knocking on Rebecca Beard witness Cherie “Rio” Starr’s door, I was issued a criminal trespass warning. I later requested the responding deputies’ body camera video through a public records request so readers can see what happened for themselves.

As I prepared to leave, Cherie Starr ran outside with another man.

They demanded to know who had given me her name.

I told them I never reveal confidential sources. Protecting sources is part of my job.

During the encounter, Starr said she was calling the district attorney, investigator Matt Wingo, and former DA investigator John Blankenship.

However, only local law enforcement officers responded to the scene.

According to my recollection, Starr then stood behind my Jeep while continuing to question me.

I did not believe I could safely back up while someone stood behind my vehicle.

I stayed where I was until deputies arrived.

They investigated the situation for about two hours.

Before I left, deputies issued me a criminal trespass warning and told me not to return to the property.

Why I Requested the Body Camera Video

I do not expect readers to rely only on my account.

That is why I requested the deputies’ body camera footage through the Texas Public Information Act.

As of today, I am still waiting for those records.

When I receive the footage, I will publish it so readers can watch the encounter and reach their own conclusions.

Transparency matters.

Why This Story Matters

Today, investigators have told the family they do not consider Starr a credible witness.

That does not change why I knocked on her door.

At the time, Rebecca’s family believed her allegations were important enough to investigate. I believed they were important enough to question.

I was not trying to prove Cherie Starr right.

I was not trying to prove her wrong.

I wanted answers.

That is my job.

Investigative journalism means asking difficult questions, even when those questions make people uncomfortable.

Whether readers agree with my reporting or not, I believe they deserve to understand why I knocked on Cherie “Rio” Starr’s door.

Related Coverage

Read my coverage of the meeting between Rebecca Beard’s family and investigators.

You can also read my reporting on the physical evidence and the ongoing search for Rebecca Beard’s remains.

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Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose

Breaking News, Investigations, John Gabriel Mendoza Jr.

Brazoria County Seeks to Withhold Records on Outside Counsel

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The requested records involve outside attorneys hired by Brazoria County in connection with the John Mendoza Jr. shooting investigation.

Public records request and Brazoria County DA letter seeking to withhold records in the John Mendoza Jr. shooting investigation.
July 2, 2026: Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office notified requester Kevin Henry that it was asking the Texas Attorney General to determine whether records related to outside legal counsel could be withheld under the Texas Public Information Act.

Brazoria County DA Asks Texas Attorney General to Withhold Records on Outside Counsel Hired After John Mendoza Jr. Shooting

By Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose

Why did Brazoria County hire outside legal counsel following the fatal shooting of John Mendoza Jr., and why is the District Attorney now asking the Texas Attorney General to keep those records from the public?

Those are questions at the center of a new Texas Public Information Act dispute after podcast host Kevin Henry requested documents related to outside attorneys retained by Brazoria County following the officer-involved shooting.

The records request seeks documents that would show:

The attorney engagement letter.

The scope of legal representation.

Financial terms of the agreement.

Communications regarding hiring outside counsel.

Authority used to retain the attorneys.

Invoices and payment records.

According to the request, the records involve outside attorney Norman Giles and the law firm Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP in connection with matters involving John Mendoza Jr., John Mendoza Sr., and attorney Charles Adams.

DA Requests Attorney General Ruling

July 2, 2026 Brazoria County District Attorney letter requesting a Texas Attorney General ruling on whether records related to outside legal counsel may be withheld under the Texas Public Information Act.
On July 2, 2026, the Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office notified Kevin Henry that it was seeking a Texas Attorney General ruling on whether records related to outside legal counsel could be withheld under the Texas Public Information Act.

Instead of immediately releasing the records, Brazoria County Criminal District Attorney Tom Selleck notified the Texas Attorney General that his office intends to seek permission to withhold portions of the requested information.

In the July 2, 2026 letter, the DA cites several exceptions under the Texas Public Information Act, including:

Confidential information

Litigation exception

Law enforcement exception

Agency memoranda

The Attorney General will ultimately determine whether those claimed exemptions apply.

Kevin Henry Challenges the County’s Position

Portrait of Kevin Henry, host of The Kevin Henry Podcast, who filed the Texas Public Information Act request seeking records related to outside legal counsel in the John Mendoza Jr. investigation.
Kevin Henry filed the public records request seeking contracts, invoices, communications, and related records concerning outside legal counsel hired by Brazoria County in connection with the John Mendoza Jr. investigation. The Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office later notified him it was seeking a Texas Attorney General ruling on whether some of those records could be withheld.

Kevin Henry argues the requested documents involve public expenditures rather than protected legal advice.

In his filing, he contends that:

Engagement letters for outside legal services are generally public records.

Financial terms of public contracts are typically subject to disclosure.

Outside counsel was retained before litigation was filed.

The public has a strong interest in understanding how taxpayer money is being spent following the fatal shooting.

Henry also argues that disclosure is particularly important because the request concerns the death of John Mendoza Jr. during an encounter with a Brazoria County Sheriff’s deputy.

Why This Matters

When government agencies retain outside attorneys, taxpayers often pay those legal expenses.

The records requested could provide additional information about:

When outside counsel was hired.

What work the attorneys were retained to perform.

How much taxpayers may ultimately pay.

The legal scope of the representation.

Whether those documents remain confidential now rests with the Texas Attorney General’s Office.

What Happens Next

The Attorney General will review both Brazoria County’s arguments for withholding the records and Kevin Henry’s response opposing those claims.

If the Attorney General orders disclosure, Brazoria County may be required to release some or all of the requested documents. If the ruling favors the county, portions of the records could remain withheld.

I’ll continue following this public records dispute and provide updates as additional filings become available.

The Texas Attorney General will now determine whether the requested records must be released or whether the county may lawfully withhold some or all of them under the Texas Public Information Act.

More John Mendoza Jr. Coverage: Follow my ongoing investigative reporting into the John Mendoza Jr. shooting, including public records requests, legal filings, the outside counsel controversy, attorney statements, and previous developments in the case.

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