Tag Archives: Tom Selleck

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

Rebecca Beard Meeting: Family Questions Evidence and Investigators

July 18, 2026 Tammy Rose Leave a comment

Rebecca Beard article thumbnail featuring a sealed case file, Rebecca Beard with her infant daughter, a present-day image of her sister Carol Mize, and text highlighting the family’s questions about sealed records and evidence in the 1986 murder case. — **Rebecca Beard’s family continues to question evidence, sealed records, and investigative conclusions nearly four decades after her 1986 disappearance and murder.**

Rebecca Beard Meeting: Family Presses Investigators on Evidence While Authorities Defend Their Conclusions

CLUTE, Texas — A recorded meeting between Rebecca “Becky” Beard’s family and Brazoria County officials reveals sharp questions about court records, physical evidence, witness statements and the continuing search for her remains.

Becky disappeared after leaving the Excalibur Club in Freeport in March 1986. Paul Taylor later pleaded guilty to her murder, but investigators have never recovered Rebecca Beard’s body.

During the meeting, Becky’s sister, Carol Mize, and mother, Linda Barnes, questioned Brazoria County District Attorney Tom Selleck, former DA investigator John Blankenship, investigator Tommy Hansen and others involved in reviewing the case.

Selleck prosecuted Taylor in the original case and now serves as Brazoria County district attorney. Blankenship is a former investigator with the DA’s Office who came out of retirement to help review the Beard case.

According to a professional biography presented for Hansen, he worked for the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office from 1973 until 2024. The biography states that he transferred his law-enforcement license to the Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office in January 2025 and remained assigned to an FBI task force.

Rebecca Beard’s Family Questions Court Records

Handwritten court notes and docket records from the Paul Taylor case displayed with color-coded tabs highlighting key sections discussed during the Rebecca Beard family meeting. — **Handwritten court notes and docket records became a major focus during the meeting as Rebecca Beard’s family questioned language, timelines, and evidence referenced in the original case.**

A significant portion of the meeting centered on handwritten court notes and docket records from Taylor’s case.

Mize questioned language indicating that Larry Bullard planned to testify about “finding” Rebecca Beard’s body. She asked why the document appeared to reference a body when authorities have repeatedly said they never recovered Becky’s remains.

Officials disputed that interpretation. They said Bullard’s appearance concerned efforts to locate Becky’s body and the prosecution’s request for additional time to continue searching.

According to officials, the court had already selected a jury when Paul Taylor changed his plea before opening statements and testimony began. The court later released the jurors.

The family continued to challenge the wording in the court record. They argued the written language appeared more definitive than the explanation officials provided during the meeting.

Pre-Sentence Document Marked Not for Public Inspection

Three court record documents, including a pre-sentence investigation envelope marked “Judicial Document” and “Not for Public Inspection,” displayed during the Rebecca Beard family meeting.

Sealed pre-sentence investigation document in the Rebecca Beard murder case reviewed by Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose.

The family also questioned an envelope marked “Pre-Sentence Investigation,” “Judicial Document” and “Not for Public Inspection.”

Officials explained that judges use a pre-sentence investigation, commonly called a PSI, to review a standard report before sentencing. They said the restriction applied only to the PSI and did not mean anyone had secretly sealed evidence about Becky’s body.

Mize said she received the document among additional pages included with the records she purchased. She questioned why those pages were not part of the original page count.

The group also discussed the roles of the district clerk, deputy district clerk and judge in preparing, filing and maintaining court documents.

Family Raises Questions About the Shotgun

Paul Taylor Jr confession released from 2002 family mediation discussing the Rebecca Beard case

The possible murder weapon became another major point of discussion.

Taylor’s account has reportedly included a handgun. However, the family questioned why a shotgun appeared in the case evidence records.

Mize questioned why the evidence records appeared to show someone entered the shotgun into evidence after Taylor entered his plea. Officials disputed that timeline. They said investigators collected the firearm earlier and later returned it after the case concluded.

The conversation included references to two officers signing the weapon into evidence and to a man associated with the shotgun. The exact spelling of several names mentioned in the audio remains unclear.

The disagreement highlights a central concern for the family: whether the dates and descriptions in the evidence records fully match the official explanation of the case.

Officials Continue to Believe Paul Taylor Acted Alone

Paul Taylor Jr. booking photo taken during the investigation into the Rebecca Beard case. — Paul Taylor Jr.‘s booking photograph from the Rebecca Beard murder investigation. During the meeting, officials defended the original prosecution and said they continue to believe Taylor acted alone in Becky’s murder.

Selleck and the investigators defended the original prosecution and said the available evidence continues to point to Taylor as the sole person responsible for Becky’s murder.

Officials said there was enough evidence to present the case to a grand jury, obtain an indictment and prepare for trial. Taylor ultimately changed his plea after the court selected a jury.

They also discussed a more recent interview with Taylor. According to officials in the meeting, that interview did not give them a reason to believe another person participated in the crime.

One official said the combined experience of those reviewing the case exceeded 100 years and that they had not developed a “gut feeling” that Taylor’s conviction was wrong.

Why Paul Taylor Led Investigators to a Search Site

Canal and grassy search area associated with the Rebecca Beard investigation, where Paul Taylor led investigators during the search for her remains. — Officials said Paul Taylor led investigators to this search area because he believed he buried Rebecca Beard there. During the meeting, they distinguished that location from what they believe may have happened to her remains afterward.

The family asked why Taylor led investigators to a location if he also claimed he did not know where Becky’s body was.

Officials drew a distinction between the location where Taylor believed he buried Becky and what may have happened to her remains afterward.

They said Taylor could identify the area where he believed the burial occurred but could not explain whether the remains had later been moved, scattered or affected by environmental conditions.

The family also discussed a tow truck driver, Jack Daniels, who reportedly pulled Taylor’s vehicle from a ditch around the time of the crime.

Investigators Say the Search Has Not Ended

Portrait of Rebecca “Becky” Beard taken before her 1986 disappearance and murder. — Rebecca “Becky” Beard disappeared after leaving the Excalibur Club in Freeport in March 1986. During the meeting, officials told her family investigators continue searching for her remains nearly four decades later.

Officials told Mize and Barnes that investigators have not stopped looking for Becky.

They described the difficulties of recovering remains after four decades in a coastal area affected by hurricanes, flooding, animals, vegetation and natural decomposition.

An investigator said other homicide cases involving remains left in similar environments have also ended without a recovery.

Officials said credible information about a new location would still be investigated.

“Nobody’s giving up,” one participant told the family.

Family DNA Available for Future Comparisons

The meeting also included questions about DNA.

Officials said DNA from Becky’s biological relatives is available for comparison if unidentified remains are discovered in the future.

They explained that unidentified remains can be entered into national databases and compared with family reference samples. No match involving Becky had been reported at the time of the meeting.

The family said having DNA available is important because remains could be uncovered years later during construction, land development or another investigation.

Officials Address Witness Rio’s Statements

Remote dirt road leading through the Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge, an area referenced in witness accounts and past searches connected to the Rebecca Beard case. — Witness Rio reportedly led investigators to this location in the Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge while describing his account of Rebecca Beard’s disappearance. During the meeting, officials addressed Rio’s statements as family members questioned his version of events.

The family also questioned claims made by a witness identified as Rio.

Rio has reportedly described multiple people participating in Becky’s assault, death and the movement of her remains. The account has included unusual claims involving an alligator and an ambulance.

Several participants said they had never previously heard that version.

Officials said numerous people named or connected to Rio’s account had been interviewed. They said investigators were unable to corroborate the substantive portions of the account concerning the crime or the people allegedly present.

They acknowledged that some general details could be confirmed, including the existence of certain locations. However, they said that did not verify the allegations about what happened to Becky.

Family Continues to Challenge the Official Account

The meeting showed a clear divide between the family’s unresolved questions and the conclusions defended by authorities.

Mize and Barnes pressed officials about the court record, the shotgun, witness accounts, search locations and the lack of Becky’s remains.

Officials maintained that Taylor acted alone, that the original prosecution was supported by sufficient evidence and that no credible information has changed that conclusion.

For Becky’s family, however, the absence of her remains and the conflicting language found in records continue to leave questions nearly 40 years after her disappearance.

Related Rebecca Beard Coverage

Read more about the conflicting information surrounding legal representation for Paul Taylor and what the Beard family says it was told:

Rebecca Beard Family Questions Claims Paul Taylor Declined Legal Representation

Follow continuing coverage of the Rebecca Beard investigation and newly reviewed records:

https://www.chopperrose.com

EXCLUSIVE: Roy Alan Stuart Prison Confessions Revealed in Kent McGowen’s Secret Journals

July 11, 2026 Tammy Rose Leave a comment

Thumbnail featuring retired deputy Kent McGowen on the left, convicted serial killer Roy Alan Stuart on the right, and a real handwritten prison notebook page in the center. The image promotes an exclusive interview about McGowen’s prison journals documenting alleged conversations with Stuart. — Thumbnail for the exclusive interview featuring retired deputy Kent McGowen, convicted serial killer Roy Alan Stuart, and a real handwritten notebook page provided by McGowen. McGowen says the journals document alleged conversations with Stuart while they were incarcerated together.

Former Deputy Documents Alleged Roy Alan Stuart Confessions in Secret Prison Journals

Former Harris County deputy Kent McGowen poses in uniform beside a sheriff’s patrol car before his 1992 conviction. — Before serving about 19 years in prison, Kent McGowen worked as a Harris County deputy. McGowen says it was during his incarceration that he met Roy Alan Stuart and began documenting the conversations that became the basis of his prison journals and investigative notes.

By Tammy Rose | Investigative Reporter

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

For nearly two years inside a Texas prison, former Harris County deputy Kent McGowen says he got to know convicted serial killer Roy Alan Stuart. What began as casual conversations became something McGowen says he could not ignore.

McGowen says Stuart described murders, body disposal sites and victims who had never been publicly connected to him. McGowen feared he would forget the details, so he secretly documented the conversations in composition notebooks, handwritten journals and investigative timelines.

The former Harris County deputy shared those journals, notebooks and supporting documents publicly for the first time.

Over the past several weeks, I interviewed former Harris County deputy Kent McGowen, reviewed hundreds of pages of handwritten prison journals and supporting documents, and examined records related to the claims discussed in this article.

Editor’s Note – July 11, 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, and other correspondence—but they do not establish that Investigator Matt Wingo or the other investigators personally met with Kent as I had previously interpreted. Those sections have been corrected to more accurately reflect the original handwritten journals.

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

⸻

Why McGowen Started Writing Everything Down

Former Harris County deputy Kent McGowen poses with fellow inmates during his incarceration in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. McGowen says he met convicted serial killer Roy Alan Stuart while they were housed in the same prison unit. — Former Harris County deputy Kent McGowen spent about 19 years in prison, where he says he lived near Roy Alan Stuart for nearly two years and began documenting the conversations that became the basis of his handwritten prison journals.

Watch my exclusive interview as Kent McGowen describes chilling details he says Roy Alan Stuart confessed to while the two were incarcerated together.

McGowen served about 19 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice after a jury convicted him in the 1992 murder of Susan White.

McGowen says he spent nearly two years housed in what he described as a converted shipping container with more than a dozen other inmates, including Stuart.

According to McGowen, most inmates avoided Stuart because of his reputation.

“If you think what a serial killer looks like, that’s the picture that pops into your mind,” McGowen told me.

Eventually, the two men started talking.

According to McGowen, those conversations changed everything.

He says Stuart described crimes, victims, locations and methods in extraordinary detail. McGowen believed much of the information had never become public.

Instead of relying on memory, McGowen quietly wrote down what Stuart told him. He used composition notebooks, handwritten journals and investigative timelines whenever he had the opportunity.

⸻

Secret Prison Journals

Close-up of a handwritten prison journal page provided by former Harris County deputy Kent McGowen documenting notes he says were taken after conversations with convicted serial killer Roy Alan Stuart while incarcerated. — One page from Kent McGowen’s handwritten prison journals. McGowen says he wrote many of the notes covertly while incarcerated with Roy Alan Stuart to preserve details he believed investigators should review. The handwritten entries are published as source material and have not been independently verified by Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose.

McGowen says he often wrote the notes late at night after speaking with Stuart. Poor lighting and the need for secrecy made many pages difficult to read decades later.

He never intended to publish the journals.

Instead, McGowen says he created a personal record of conversations he hoped investigators would eventually review.

As time passed, he expanded the project. He created typed investigative summaries, organized his notes and added details as additional memories surfaced.

⸻

Original Notebook Pages

Gallery of original handwritten prison journal pages and investigative notes provided by former Harris County deputy Kent McGowen. McGowen says he documented conversations with convicted serial killer Roy Alan Stuart while the two were incarcerated.

Additional Documents

During our interview, McGowen said the journals document conversations and allegations involving convicted serial killer Roy Alan Stuart while the two men were incarcerated together.

I am publishing the journals as source material for transparency. I have not independently verified every allegation they contain. Readers should not interpret their publication as confirmation that every claim is true.

I published the notebook pages as McGowen provided them, except for minor adjustments that improve readability.

Readers can compare the original handwritten journals with McGowen’s later typed investigative summaries to better understand the chronology he documented.

What Stuart Told McGowen

According to McGowen, Roy Alan Stuart eventually grew comfortable talking about his past. McGowen says Stuart began describing crimes he claimed to have committed.

The conversations continued for nearly two years while both men served time in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. McGowen worried he would forget important details, so he recorded the conversations in handwritten prison journals. Later, he organized the information into typed investigative summaries and timelines.

McGowen’s notes include allegations involving additional victims whom public records have never linked to Stuart.

One entry identifies Linda Kay (White) Simmons. McGowen says Stuart claimed responsibility for killing her in 1971 after prison officials released him following the killing of another victim also named Kay.

Another entry describes a woman McGowen says Stuart claimed was thrown from a bridge into Austin Bayou. McGowen writes that Stuart described the location during one of their conversations.

Screenshot of a text message provided by former Harris County deputy Kent McGowen discussing alleged information about Roy Alan Stuart alongside a photograph of Austin Bayou referenced in McGowen’s notes.

Screenshot of a text message provided by former Harris County deputy Kent McGowen alongside a photograph of Austin Bayou, which McGowen says was referenced during conversations with convicted serial killer Roy Alan Stuart while they were incarcerated.

McGowen also documented allegations involving a constable he says Stuart claimed to have killed. During my interview with McGowen, he said Stuart identified the person as a law enforcement officer who later used a wheelchair.

Close-up of a handwritten notebook page provided by Kent McGowen containing numbered investigative notes. Entries appear to reference a junkyard, an “ex constable,” and the Alvin area between 1982 and 1984. Portions of the handwriting are difficult to decipher. — Copy of a handwritten notebook page provided by Kent McGowen. Entries appear to reference a junkyard, an “ex constable,” and the Alvin area between 1982 and 1984. Portions of the handwriting are difficult to decipher.

One handwritten notebook page also appears to reference a junkyard, an “ex constable,” and the Alvin area between 1982 and 1984, although portions of the handwriting are difficult to decipher. McGowen says he later shared this information with retired Brazoria County investigator Matt Wingo and referenced additional details involving Austin Bayou in his prison notes.

Screenshot of a text message exchange between former Harris County deputy Kent McGowen and retired TDCJ investigator Matt Wingo discussing McGowen’s prison notes about Roy Alan Stuart, including Wingo’s response that investigators should review the notes to verify additional information and his belief that not all victims had been found. — Screenshot of a July 2023 text conversation in which retired veteran investigator Matt Wingo discusses reviewing Kent McGowen’s prison notes related to convicted serial killer Roy Alan Stuart. The exchange is published as source material. Its contents have not been independently verified by me.

Additional Allegations Documented in McGowen’s Notes

According to McGowen’s handwritten notes and his 2023 correspondence with retired investigator Matt Wingo, Stuart allegedly described numerous additional crimes during nearly two years of conversations in prison. They include:

McGowen’s notes state that Stuart claimed his first killing occurred when he was about 10 years old. According to the notes, Stuart alleged his father restrained Stuart’s paternal uncle and ordered him to beat the man to death with a baseball bat.

The notes also describe an allegation that Stuart murdered a nun in Potter County and concealed her body beneath a cattle water trough.

Another allegation in McGowen’s notes is that Stuart claimed he kidnapped a woman in Tomball.

The notes also reference additional alleged homicide victims, body disposal locations, and other crimes Stuart reportedly described during nearly two years of conversations in prison.

The allegations above have not been independently verified by me. They are published because they appear in McGowen’s contemporaneous notes and correspondence, which investigators previously acknowledged reviewing.

Could Terri Denise McDaniels Be One of the Cases?

**Terri Denise McDaniels was found murdered in Pearland on Oct. 31, 1986. Her homicide remains unsolved.**

McGowen’s notes include an allegation that Roy Alan Stuart claimed he murdered a young girl in Brazoria County after allegedly being paid approximately $3,000 by the victim’s mother for life insurance proceeds.

At this time, I have not identified any public records linking Roy Alan Stuart to McDaniels’ homicide, and no official connection has been established.

While researching the case, I found online discussions in which some members of the public have speculated that Stuart could have been responsible for McDaniels’ unsolved killing. Those online discussions are not evidence and do not establish a connection.

Because McDaniels’ homicide remains unsolved and McGowen’s notes describe an alleged unidentified victim in Brazoria County, I am continuing to examine whether any records or witnesses support—or refute—a possible connection.

Investigators Acknowledged Receiving the Information

Additional notebook entries reference unidentified victims, possible body disposal sites and locations McGowen believed investigators should review.

No public records confirm Stuart’s involvement in these additional cases.

I included the material because it appears throughout McGowen’s handwritten journals, investigative summaries and supporting documents.

⸻

Efforts to Alert Investigators

McGowen says he never intended for the prison journals to remain hidden.

After leaving prison, he organized his handwritten notes into typed investigative summaries. He says he shared portions of that material with investigators in hopes they would examine the information further.

The emails, text messages and documents included in this article show McGowen’s efforts to preserve the information and seek additional review. They do not independently verify the allegations themselves.

⸻

State Records Confirm Roy Alan Stuart Died in Prison

Official Record: The Texas Attorney General Custodial Death Report below confirms Roy Alan Stuart died on May 10, 2019, while in the custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The report lists his manner of death as natural and identifies lung cancer as the medical cause of death.

Texas Attorney General Custodial Death Report – Roy Alan Stuart (PDF)Download

While reviewing McGowen’s records, I also obtained an official Texas Attorney General Custodial Death Report confirming Roy Alan Stuart died on May 10, 2019, while in the custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

The report states Stuart was 71 years old. He died while receiving hospice care at the Michael Unit in Anderson County. It lists lung cancer as the medical cause of death and classifies the manner of death as natural.

McGowen told me Stuart appeared to disappear from the public TDCJ inmate roster after he began providing information to investigators in 2019. According to McGowen, Stuart later appeared under a different unit assignment before state records ultimately confirmed his death.

What Remains Unverified

Many of the allegations contained in McGowen’s journals and investigative summaries have never been independently verified.

Some involve crimes for which Stuart was never charged, while others identify alleged victims, disposal sites or additional homicides that are not reflected in publicly available court records.

Throughout this investigation, I have distinguished between information supported by public records and allegations McGowen attributes to Stuart during their time incarcerated in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Readers should not interpret publication of these documents as confirmation that every allegation is true. Instead, the records are being published so readers can examine the original material alongside the reporting as this investigation continues.

⸻

Investigation Continues

Over the coming weeks, I will continue reviewing prison journals, handwritten notes, investigative timelines and correspondence provided by McGowen.

Public records requests remain pending. I also continue seeking comment from current and former law enforcement officials mentioned throughout this investigation.

The records are being published so readers can examine the original material.

McGowen believes the journals preserve years of conversations investigators should examine. Time will determine whether those allegations lead to new evidence or simply become part of the historical record.

Do You Have Information?

Do you have information related to Roy Alan Stuart or any case discussed in this investigation?

Send documentation, photographs, court records or firsthand information that could help verify or refute claims in McGowen’s journals.

Email Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose at chopperrose@msn.com

Editor’s Note: This article contains allegations documented in Kent McGowen’s prison journals, handwritten notes and correspondence. Unless otherwise noted, these allegations have not been independently verified by me and should not be interpreted as established fact.

If you’re interested in learning more about Roy Alan Stuart and other notorious Texas crime cases, browse my recommended true crime books in my Amazon storefront.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.

Breaking News, Investigations, John Gabriel Mendoza Jr.

Brazoria County Seeks to Withhold Records on Outside Counsel

July 8, 2026 Tammy Rose Leave a comment

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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Breaking News, Investigations, Life Stories on Film, Rebecca Beard, Texas Cold Cases, True Crime

Exclusive: Rebecca Beard Family Wants Answers From Key Witnesses Named In Police Reports

June 19, 2026 Tammy Rose Leave a comment

Brittany Pipkin poses in a police uniform during her law enforcement career. Pipkin, the daughter of Rebecca Beard, later used her investigative training to review records related to her mother’s unsolved murder case. — Rebecca Beard’s daughter, Brittany Pipkin, became a police officer and is now using those investigative skills in her search for answers about her mother’s 1986 murder. Photo courtesy of Brittany Pipkin.

Why Brittany Pipkin Questions the Original Investigation

Becky Beard’s 1986 planner with handwritten notes and calendar entries, reviewed by her daughter Brittany Pipkin during her search for answers in the decades-old case. — Becky Beard’s personal planner from 1986 remains an important piece of family history. Her daughter, Brittany Pipkin, has carefully reviewed the planner and other records while searching for answers about her mother’s disappearance and presumed murder.

BEAUMONT, Texas — More than four decades after Rebecca Beard disappeared and was later presumed murdered, her family says they are still searching for answers.

After reviewing decades of police reports, Rebecca’s daughter, Brittany Pipkin, believes there are questions that remain unanswered about several people whose names appear throughout the investigation.

Among them are businessman Arch Aplin and John Cohn.

Watch the Full Video Report

Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose sat down with Brittany Pipkin to discuss why she believes additional questions should be asked about individuals named in the original investigation.

Questions About Arch Aplin

**Redacted police report pages reviewed by Rebecca Beard’s family, with highlighted sections referencing individuals connected to the investigation.**

According to police reports reviewed by the family, Arch Aplin’s name appears numerous times throughout the investigation.

Pipkin says she first became aware of Aplin while reviewing records connected to her mother’s case.

“When I was younger, I was a huge fan because I saw his name in all the police reports,” Pipkin said.

According to Pipkin, reports indicate Aplin had contact with Rebecca Beard before her disappearance and later communicated frequently with investigators.

Police records also reference reward money being offered during the investigation.

“He was contacting detectives almost daily,” Pipkin said. “He’s offering rewards.”

Despite that involvement, Pipkin says she has never had an opportunity to speak with Aplin directly.

“I’ve sent him a few emails,” she said. “He’s never reached out to talk to us.”

Pipkin says she would like the opportunity to ask questions about Rebecca’s final days and what information he may remember from that time period.

“I would love to ask him if he knows more than what was told to investigators,” she said.

Conflicting Accounts Raise Questions

Brittany Pipkin points to what she believes are inconsistencies within the case records. One document appears to list Arch Aplin as the last person known to have seen Becky Beard on February 14, 1986, while another references a witness statement involving Paul Taylor at the Excalibur Club around the time of her disappearance. Pipkin says the records raise questions she believes deserve further examination.

Questions Surrounding John Cohn

Police report excerpt referencing investigators contacting John Cone regarding information in the Rebecca Beard homicide investigation. — **A police report indicates John Cone requested to speak with his attorney before providing a statement to investigators.**

Signed photograph of Rebecca Beard with handwritten inscription provided by the Beard family. — **A police report indicates John Cone requested to speak with his attorney before providing a statement to investigators.**

Pipkin also wants to speak with John Cohn, whose name appears in investigative records.

According to police reports, Cohn reportedly contacted then-Brazoria County Sheriff E.J. “Joe” King shortly after Rebecca’s murder.

The reports indicate Cohn allegedly told authorities that his friend and co-owner of a home on Third Street in Clute was responsible for Rebecca’s death.

That individual, Paul Taylor Jr., would not be charged until approximately nine years later.

Taylor eventually pleaded guilty in connection with the case.

For Pipkin, the timeline raises questions.

“What did people know, and when did they know it?” she asked.

She believes additional information may still exist regarding what occurred in the days immediately following Rebecca’s disappearance.

“I think he knows a lot more than what has been stated,” Pipkin said.

The Family Says This Is About Finding The Truth

Pipkin emphasizes that the family’s goal is not to publicly accuse anyone.

Instead, she says they are seeking answers and hoping investigators continue pursuing leads that could help locate Rebecca’s remains.

“We’re not doing this to accuse anybody,” Pipkin said.

“We just want the truth. We want to bring her home.”

More than 40 years after Rebecca Beard vanished, the family says that goal has never changed.

They want a place to visit.

A place to leave flowers.

And finally, a place to lay Rebecca Beard to rest.

Related Coverage

Read Part One:

Read Part Two:

More Rebecca Beard coverage:
https://www.chopperrose.com/tag/rebecca-beard/

Editor’s Note

The individuals named in this story have not been charged with Rebecca Beard’s murder. Statements referenced in this article are drawn from interviews, court records and police reports reviewed by the family. Investigators have not publicly announced additional suspects in the case.

Recommended True Crime Books

If you’re interested in cold cases, unsolved mysteries, and investigative reporting, these books provide insight into how complex cases are investigated and solved:

📖 I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara
A bestselling investigation into the Golden State Killer case.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Chopper Rose earns from qualifying purchases. If you purchase through the links below, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. These commissions help support independent investigative journalism and cold case reporting.

Breaking News, True Crime

DA Seeks to Withhold Records in John Gabriel Mendoza Jr. Shooting Case

June 15, 2026 Tammy Rose Leave a comment

John Gabriel Mendoza Jr. pictured in a Brazoswood High School football uniform.

BRAZORIA COUNTY, Texas — Brazoria County prosecutors have asked the Texas Attorney General for permission to withhold records related to the fatal shooting of John Gabriel Mendoza Jr. while multiple investigations remain ongoing.

The request was submitted June 15, 2026, by the Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office in response to several public information requests seeking records connected to the deputy-involved shooting.

According to the filing, county officials argue that releasing certain records could interfere with the ongoing Texas Rangers investigation into the use of deadly force. The county is also citing anticipated litigation related to the case as a reason the records should remain confidential.

What Records Are Being Sought?

The filing references requests for information that may include:

Body camera footage

Personnel records

Internal law enforcement documents

Policies and procedures related to use-of-force investigations

County officials asked the Attorney General to allow the records to be withheld under several exceptions contained in the Texas Public Information Act.

Texas Rangers Investigation Continues

In the filing, prosecutors state that the Texas Rangers continue to investigate the deputy-involved shooting involving John Gabriel Mendoza Jr.

The county argues that releasing records while the investigation remains active could interfere with law enforcement efforts and any potential criminal review.

Officials also cited anticipated litigation involving the case as an additional reason records should not be released at this time.

Attorney General Has Not Yet Ruled

The filing does not mean the records have been permanently withheld.

Instead, the Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office is asking the Texas Attorney General to issue a ruling on whether the requested information can remain confidential under Texas law.

The Attorney General will review the request and determine whether some or all of the records must be released.

Public Records Requests Filed

The filing identifies multiple public information requests submitted after the shooting, including a request submitted by Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose.

Those requests seek records connected to the investigation and the circumstances surrounding Mendoza’s death.

As of publication, the Attorney General has not issued a decision regarding the requested records.

Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose will continue following developments in the case and provide updates as additional information becomes available.

Attorney General Filing

AG Letter-To Requestor Download

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