Nearly 40 years after Rebecca Beard’s murder, a four-hour excavation near a Brazoria County cemetery ended without the discovery of her remains.
The search followed a disturbing claim from a witness who says she watched the 22-year-old woman buried alive in 1986.
While I was in Dubai, a nearby property owner contacted me about repeated visits by retired Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office investigator John Blankenship. The owner also claimed he witnessed suspicious activity in the area around the time Beard disappeared.
Shortly after Blankenship spoke with the property owner, a search took place with assistance from Texas EquuSearch.
According to a source familiar with the operation, nothing was found.
Witness claims she watched Rebecca Beard buried alive
Area near the cemetery identified as a possible burial site in the Rebecca Beard murder investigation.
In January 2026, a woman came forward with a disturbing account of what she claims happened nearly 40 years earlier.
She alleged that she was present the night Beard was killed in March 1986.
According to the witness, she followed the suspects from the Excalibur Club in Freeport to an area near a cemetery.
There, she claims, she watched them bury Beard alive.
The witness identified a possible burial location near the cemetery.
Her allegations remain unverified. No publicly confirmed physical evidence has established that Beard was buried at that location.
Nevertheless, her account brought renewed attention to an area connected to one of Brazoria County’s longest-running murder mysteries.
District attorney’s investigators questioned witness credibility
Recreation showing Rebecca “Becky” Beard wearing clothing similar to what she reportedly wore the night she disappeared in 1986.
Beard’s family later met with representatives of the Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office and investigators to discuss the witness’s allegations.
During a recorded meeting, investigators explained why they did not believe the woman’s account.
They said she had changed parts of her story.
According to investigators, those inconsistencies raised concerns about her credibility.
Despite the witness’s claims, investigators did not consider her account reliable.
However, the question of where Beard’s remains are located remains unanswered.
Property owner contacts reporter about activity near cemetery
Vehicles and search personnel gather near the cemetery following renewed interest in a possible burial location for Rebecca “Becky” Beard.
While I was in Dubai in October 2026, a property owner near the cemetery contacted me about several visits by retired Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office investigator John Blankenship.
The owner said Blankenship had been looking near the area where a witness claimed Rebecca Beard was buried in 1986.
During our conversation, the owner revealed that he had witnessed suspicious activity in the same area around the time Beard disappeared.
However, he said he initially believed the activity might involve satanic rituals or the burial of animals. He had previously noticed activity in the area that led him to that suspicion.
At the time, he did not believe he had witnessed anything connected to a murder. As a result, he never contacted police.
His suspicions remain unverified, and there is no established evidence connecting satanic activity or animal burials to Beard’s murder.
Shortly after Blankenship spoke with the property owner, a search took place near the cemetery.
Four-hour excavation finds nothing
Texas EquuSearch was brought in to assist with the search near the Brazoria County cemetery.
Photographs show excavation equipment removing soil while search personnel carefully examined the ground by hand.
The search focused on an area near where a witness claimed Rebecca Beard was buried alive in 1986.
The operation lasted approximately four hours.
Despite the extensive digging, a source familiar with the search said nothing was found.
Nearly 40 years after Beard’s murder, her remains are still missing.
The latest search has not resolved the questions surrounding her disappearance or the witness’s allegations.
Rebecca Beard disappeared after visiting Freeport nightclub
Rebecca Beard was just 22 years old when she disappeared in March 1986.
She had visited the Excalibur Club in Freeport before vanishing.
Her disappearance left behind a young daughter and a family desperate for answers.
In 1995, Paul Taylor Jr. pleaded guilty to her murder.
However, Beard’s body was never recovered.
Over the years, investigators examined evidence connected to the Excalibur Club and a residence in Clute.
Former investigators also raised questions about evidence discovered during earlier searches.
Despite those investigative efforts, Beard’s remains have never been located.
Family has searched for answers for four decades
For Beard’s mother, Linda Barnes, and sister, Carol Mize, the search has continued for nearly 40 years.
Both have spent decades trying to learn what happened to Becky and where her remains may be.
The latest excavation did not provide the answers they have sought.
Investigators have questioned the cemetery witness’s credibility. The property owner’s account of suspicious activity also remains unverified.
Still, the recent search shows that possible leads continue to emerge decades after Beard’s murder.
The latest excavation raises an important question.
If investigators did not believe the cemetery witness, what prompted renewed interest in the area?
That question remains unanswered.
For Beard’s family, the ultimate goal has not changed.
They want to find Becky and bring her home.
Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose continues investigating the Rebecca Beard murder through public records, interviews, and firsthand accounts. Her documentary, Finding Becky Beard, examines evidence, witness statements, and unanswered questions surrounding the 1986 case. The documentary is available on YouTube.
My new book, When Two Worlds Collide During WWII, follows two families on opposite sides of World War II and the remarkable events that eventually brought their lives together in Wisconsin.
Amazon Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This comes at no additional cost to you.
At least six bodies have been recovered from Buffalo Bayou or its banks in 2026. The latest discovery happened Oct. 2.
Another body found in Buffalo Bayou is raising questions in Houston.
Houston police are investigating after firefighters recovered a man’s body from Buffalo Bayou Friday morning, October 2. The discovery happened near Hirsch Road and Clinton Drive in east Houston.
It is at least the sixth documented body recovered from Buffalo Bayou or its banks in 2026.
The cases stretch from downtown Houston to the Houston Ship Channel. Some victims have been identified. Other cases still have unanswered questions.
Man found in Buffalo Bayou on October 2
The latest discovery happened Friday morning.
Houston firefighters responded after someone spotted a body floating in Buffalo Bayou. Crews launched a rescue boat near the 7300 block of Clinton Drive.
Firefighters recovered the body of a man.
Houston police homicide detectives are investigating. Authorities have not released the man’s name or age.
The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences will determine his cause and manner of death.
January 6: First Buffalo Bayou body of 2026
The first reported Buffalo Bayou recovery of the year happened January 6 near downtown Houston.
A maintenance crew spotted a man’s body in the water near Commerce and Main streets.
Houston firefighters received the call around 1:46 p.m.
Police said the man was clothed and wearing a gray jacket. Authorities did not immediately release his identity.
The discovery came just days into the new year.
February 2: Fisherman found near Port of Houston
Houston police recovered another man from Buffalo Bayou on February 2.
The discovery happened at 8300 High Level Road near the Port of Houston.
HPD said the 62-year-old man wore several layers of clothing and appeared dressed for cold-weather fishing.
Detectives learned that a missing man had last been seen fishing at the same location on January 26. Investigators also found his vehicle and fishing equipment along the shore.
Police reported no obvious signs of foul play.
April 30: Kenneth Young found near Buffalo Bend Nature Park
Kenneth Young, 33, was found dead near Buffalo Bend Nature Park along Buffalo Bayou on April 30, 2026. Photo courtesy of Young’s family.
A cleanup crew found another body along Buffalo Bayou on April 30.
The crew spotted the badly decomposed body near Sgt. Macario Garcia Drive and Buffalo Bend Nature Park.
Authorities later identified the man as 33-year-old Kenneth Young.
Authorities identified Young through his fingerprints.
His family has continued searching for answers about what happened to him.
July 20: Workers find decomposed body near J.W. Peavy Drive
Workers made another discovery on July 20.
They found a man’s decomposed body along the banks of the Buffalo Bayou Ship Channel at 7220 J.W. Peavy Drive.
Houston firefighters pronounced the man dead at the scene.
HPD said investigators found no apparent wounds or trauma.
At the time of the initial investigation, authorities were waiting for an autopsy to determine the man’s cause of death.
August 11: Body later identified as Carl “Clint” Mueller
Carl “Clint” Mueller, 73, was found dead along Buffalo Bayou near Nance Street on Aug. 11, 2026. Photo courtesy of Texas EquuSearch.
Houston police responded to another Buffalo Bayou discovery on August 11.
Officers found a man’s body along the banks of the bayou in the 2200 block of Nance Street.
The body was in an advanced state of decomposition.
HPD reported no obvious signs of trauma.
Texas EquuSearch later identified the man as 73-year-old Carl “Clint” Mueller.
Mueller had been missing since July 30. He was last seen near the 1400 block of Saint Joseph Parkway in downtown Houston.
Another August case happened near Buffalo Bayou
Police also investigated a body found August 7 in a wooded area near Buffalo Bayou and Beltway 8.
Officers responded to the 10400 block of Deerwood Road.
Police said that investigators were handling that death as a suicide.
Because the body was found in a wooded area near the bayou, rather than confirmed in Buffalo Bayou or along its banks, it is not included in the six confirmed Buffalo Bayou recoveries listed here.
Bodies have also been recovered from other waterways across Houston and Harris County in recent years.
Those deaths do not all share the same circumstances.
Some involved accidents or medical issues. Others involved drugs, drowning, suicide or violence. In some cases, investigators could not immediately determine how the person died.
That distinction matters.
Finding several bodies in Houston’s bayous does not mean the deaths are connected.
More than 200 bodies recovered from Houston-area bayous
More than 200 bodies have been recovered from Houston-area bayous since 2017, according to Harris County medical examiner records.
The Buffalo Bayou cases are part of a much larger issue across Houston.
Records from the Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office show that more than 200 bodies have been recovered from Houston-area bayous since 2017. By February 2026, the documented total had already reached 208.
The cases involve several Houston-area waterways, not just Buffalo Bayou. Causes of death have varied widely. Drowning has been the leading cause, while other deaths involved drugs, injuries or other circumstances. Some cases remain undetermined.
Authorities have also pushed back against speculation that the deaths are connected or the work of a serial killer.
What happens next?
The October 2 case remains under investigation.
Houston police have not announced the man’s identity or cause of death.
The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences will conduct the examination.
For now, Friday’s discovery adds another case to a troubling list of deaths involving Buffalo Bayou in 2026.
Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose will continue following the case as authorities release new information.
My new book, When Two Worlds Collide During WWII, follows two families on opposite sides of World War II and the remarkable events that eventually brought their lives together in Wisconsin.
Retired Freeport police captain Richard Miller reveals evidence discovered inside a home linked to the Becky Beard murder case, including apparent blood evidence, drag marks and cadaver dog alerts.
Nearly 40 years after Rebecca “Becky” Beard disappeared, a retired Freeport police captain is revealing evidence investigators discovered inside a home believed to be connected to her murder.
In my exclusive interview, Richard Miller describes apparent blood evidence, drag marks and two cadaver dogs that alerted beneath the home. He also recalls finding unusual material while digging before officials ordered him to stop.
Despite those discoveries, investigators never secured the home as a crime scene.
Watch my exclusive interview with Richard Miller
Richard Miller reveals evidence discovered inside the home
Retired Freeport police captain Richard Miller speaks exclusively with Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose about evidence discovered inside a home linked to Becky Beard’s murder.
Miller spent 22 years with the Freeport Police Department. He was a rookie when Becky disappeared in March 1986. Years later, he revisited the investigation as a police captain.
During a search of the home, investigators used luminol to look for possible blood evidence. Miller describes apparent blood smears on a wall and floor, along with marks leading toward the back door.
Two cadaver dogs also alerted beneath the house.
Officials ordered Miller to stop digging
Miller says he began digging beneath the home after the dogs alerted. During that search, he discovered unusual white material.
Before he could determine what he had found, officials ordered him to stop.
The material has not been confirmed as human remains. However, Miller’s account raises questions about evidence investigators may have left behind.
Why wasn’t the home secured as a crime scene?
Inside the home investigators searched in connection with Becky Beard’s murder. Retired Freeport police captain Richard Miller describes evidence discovered during the investigation.
John Cone previously told investigators that Paul Taylor Jr. allegedly confessed to him about Becky’s death.
Cone reported that Taylor had removed a mattress and carpet from the home. He also offered authorities a key to the property.
Yet investigators did not immediately secure and process the residence following Cone’s report.
Miller’s account now provides additional details about what investigators discovered during a later search.
Newly uncovered records raise more question
Newly uncovered investigative notes reference finding Becky Beard’s body. Her family says they were never informed of such a discovery, raising questions about what investigators knew in 1995.
Becky’s family has spent decades searching for her remains. They have also reviewed investigative reports and court records in their effort to uncover what happened.
Records involving possible human remains have raised additional questions for the family.
Miller’s interview offers a new perspective on the evidence discovered beneath the house. However, it does not establish that investigators recovered human remains.
Paul Taylor Jr. pleaded guilty in connection with Becky’s death in 1995. Her body has never been recovered.
My new book, When Two Worlds Collide During WWII, follows two families on opposite sides of World War II and the remarkable events that eventually brought their lives together in Wisconsin.
The story is based on my own family history, with real people, family photographs and stories passed down through generations.
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James Elmore Jr. was sentenced to 20 years in prison in the Laura Miller case. The judge also imposed a $10,000 fine and credited him with 156 days served.
James Elmore Jr. received a 20-year prison sentence Thursday in the Laura Miller case.
The judge also imposed a $10,000 fine.
The sentencing came after an emotional statement from Laura’s father, Tim Miller. He spoke directly to Elmore before the judge announced the punishment.
Tim Miller addresses James Elmore Jr.
Miller told Elmore about the damage Laura’s death caused his family.
He also spoke about Elmore’s own family.
Miller said Elmore’s son had recently posted messages suggesting he did not want to live. Despite everything that happened, Miller said he would do what he could to help keep Elmore’s son alive.
Miller then turned his attention back to Laura.
He told Elmore he once wanted to believe Elmore had not played a larger role in what happened to his daughter.
Miller said he no longer believed that.
He ended his statement by telling Elmore that he hoped he could someday find peace.
Judge sentences Elmore to 20 years
After Miller finished speaking, the judge sentenced Elmore to 20 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
The judge also ordered Elmore to pay a $10,000 fine.
Elmore received credit for 156 days already spent in custody.
The sentence followed a jury trial in Galveston County.
Elmore plans to appeal
The defense also confirmed plans to appeal the case.
Elmore’s trial attorney asked the court to release him as counsel. The judge said the court would appoint another attorney to handle the appeal.
The notice of appeal had already been filed when the judge addressed the issue in court.
Laura Miller case reaches another milestone
Memorial sign highlighting four victims whose cases have been linked to the same recovery site during the investigation into Clyde Hedrick and several unsolved homicides.
Laura Miller disappeared in September 1984.
Her remains were discovered near Calder Road in League City in February 1986.
Her father later founded Texas EquuSearch and spent decades searching for missing people while continuing to seek answers about Laura.
The sentencing marks another major development in a case that has remained part of the Texas Killing Fields story for more than four decades.
Outside the courtroom, I have also been working on a deeply personal project.
My new book, When Two Worlds Collide During WWII, follows two families on opposite sides of World War II and the remarkable events that eventually brought their lives together in Wisconsin.
The story is based on my own family history, with real people, family photographs and stories passed down through generations.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Jodi Arias will not have to file her long-awaited post-conviction relief petition next week.
A judge has granted Arias more time to prepare the petition challenging her murder conviction. The new order moves the Jodi Arias PCR deadline from September 2, 2026, to January 29, 2027.
The ruling gives Arias and her defense team nearly five additional months. Prosecutors had strongly opposed the extension.
Judge extends Jodi Arias PCR deadline
Defense attorney Christopher Stavris requested the extension in June.
He told the court that serious medical problems had disrupted the defense team’s work. One key team member needs more than three months of leave for surgery. Another team member also needs surgery and can only work in a limited role.
Two other team members face significant health problems. The defense may also need to replace another member because of continuing medical issues.
Stavris argued that those problems created extraordinary circumstances. He said the team could not complete its investigation before September 2.
The judge has now given the defense until January 29, 2027, to file Arias’ PCR petition.
Mystery evidence remains unresolved
The defense also says it still awaits information about an unidentified piece of evidence.
Court filings do not publicly describe that item. However, the defense says the issue involves the State, the Mesa Police Department or both.
Arias’ attorneys say they first requested information about the evidence nearly one year ago. They argue that they need answers before completing the PCR petition.
The filings do not explain whether the evidence still exists, what it may contain or how it could affect Arias’ claims.
Those questions remain unresolved.
Prosecutors fought the extension
The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office urged the judge to keep the September deadline.
Prosecutors argued that Arias has already received years to prepare her petition. She filed her PCR notice on February 11, 2021.
The State said the September deadline gave her more than five and a half years to finish the filing. Prosecutors also argued that Arias could file the petition and request permission to amend it later.
The State took an even stronger position in its response. Prosecutors argued that missing the September deadline could support dismissal of Arias’ PCR notice.
Despite those objections, the court gave the defense more time.
What happens next in the Jodi Arias case?
Arias must now file her PCR petition by January 29, 2027.
That petition should identify the legal grounds she plans to use to challenge her conviction or sentence. It may also reveal more about the mystery evidence mentioned in recent court filings.
Arias was convicted in 2013 of murdering Travis Alexander inside his Mesa home. She is serving a natural-life sentence with no possibility of release.
The new order does not overturn her conviction or grant her a new trial. It only gives her defense team more time to file the petition seeking post-conviction relief.
For now, the biggest questions remain unanswered.
What is the unidentified evidence? What happened to it? And how does the defense believe it could affect one of Arizona’s most closely watched murder cases?
Jodi Arias appears in court during proceedings in her Arizona murder case.
Jodi Arias court fight erupts over mystery evidence and looming deadline
By Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose
A new court fight in the Jodi Arias case centers on a looming deadline, health problems and an unidentified piece of evidence.
Arias faces a September 2, 2026 deadline to file her petition for post-conviction relief, or PCR petition.
Her attorney wants much more time.
Defense attorney Christopher Stavris asked the court to extend the Jodi Arias PCR deadline to January 29, 2027.
Prosecutors strongly oppose that request.
Now, newly reviewed court filings reveal another twist. Arias’ defense says it still awaits information about an item of evidence involving the State and/or Mesa Police Department.
The defense says it first asked about that evidence almost one year ago.
Jodi Arias PCR deadline sparks court battle
Stavris filed the extension request on June 16, 2026.
He told the court that several defense team members face significant health problems.
According to the filing, one key team member needs more than three months of surgical medical leave.
Another team member also needs surgical leave and can only work in a limited capacity.
The defense says two other team members face serious health problems that have slowed their work.
Another team member may need replacement because of ongoing medical issues.
Stavris argues those problems qualify as extraordinary circumstances under Arizona court rules.
He says his team cannot complete the necessary investigation before September 2.
Prosecutors say Arias has had enough time
Prosecutor Juan Martinez walks into court with a witness during Jodi Arias’s resentencing trial.
The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office pushed back.
Deputy County Attorney Jordan Smith argued that Arias has already had years to prepare her petition.
Arias filed her PCR notice on February 11, 2021.
Prosecutors say the September deadline gives her more than five and a half years from that filing.
The State called the deadline realistic.
Prosecutors also argued that Arias could file her petition and seek changes later if new evidence develops.
The State took an even stronger position in its filing.
Prosecutors argued that failure to meet the September 2 deadline should support dismissal of Arias’ PCR notice.
Defense reveals unresolved evidence issue
In a June 25, 2026 filing, Jodi Arias’s defense said it was still waiting for a status update on an item of evidence first raised nearly a year earlier.
The defense responded on June 25.
That filing contains one of the most interesting details in the latest court battle.
Stavris says Arias still waits for a status update involving an item of evidence.
The filing does not publicly identify the evidence.
The defense says it first asked about the item almost a year ago.
Stavris also says the State and Mesa Police Department have communicated about the evidence.
However, he says the defense still does not know its status.
The defense sent another status request several weeks before filing its reply.
According to Stavris, nobody had answered that request.
Defense says records from 2021 remain outstanding
The defense also raised another issue.
Stavris says Arias submitted a public records request through the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office in 2021.
The office partially fulfilled that request.
However, the defense says some records remain outstanding.
Arias’ team submitted a narrower request in February 2026.
The defense hoped that move would speed up the process.
Stavris says prosecutors told the defense that they continue to process the request.
Those outstanding records now form part of the defense argument for more time.
Arias attorney says PCR investigation remains active
Stavris argues that post-conviction work requires more than reviewing old court transcripts.
He says PCR claims often require new investigation outside the original trial record.
That work can involve attorneys, investigators and experts.
The defense also challenged the State’s description of the affected team members.
Prosecutors referred to them as investigators.
Stavris says several of them serve as experts in specialized fields.
He argues that those experts play a critical role in developing possible PCR claims.
The defense also says it continues to conduct discovery and investigate possible claims.
Defense offers closed hearing with judge
Stavris told the court he could provide more information if the judge wants it.
However, he asked to present those details during a sealed, ex parte hearing.
That type of hearing could allow the defense to discuss sensitive investigative information without publicly revealing its strategy.
The filing does not disclose what claims Arias may eventually raise in her PCR petition.
State asks for oral argument
In a June 26, 2026 filing, prosecutors asked Judge Aryeh Schwartz to schedule oral argument on Jodi Arias’s request for more time, with any argument set for July 23 or later.
The fight did not end with the defense reply.
On June 26, prosecutors asked the judge to hold oral arguments about the requested extension.
The State said it needs time to contact next of kin who may want to address the court.
Prosecutors cited victims’ rights to a prompt and final conclusion of the case.
The State asked the court to schedule any argument for July 23, 2026 or later.
The filing says the prosecutor assigned to the matter planned to return from vacation on July 23.
Will Jodi Arias get more time?
The filings reviewed for this story show both sides digging in.
The defense wants until January 29, 2027.
The State wants the September 2 deadline to remain in place.
The defense points to serious medical problems, unfinished investigative work, outstanding records and unresolved evidence.
Prosecutors point to the amount of time Arias has already had.
The biggest unanswered question now centers on the judge.
These filings do not include a final ruling on the extension request.
That ruling could determine whether Arias must file her long-awaited PCR petition within weeks or gets several more months to prepare it.
The mystery surrounding the unidentified evidence also adds a new question to one of Arizona’s most closely watched criminal cases.
No ruling yet on Jodi Arias PCR deadline request
As of August 17, 2026, the Maricopa County Clerk of the Superior Court says there is no minute entry or court order yet ruling on Jodi Arias’s request to extend her September 2, 2026 PCR filing deadline.
A court operations specialist told Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose that she had sent everything currently in the case and did not see a minute entry or order addressing the extension request.
That means the September 2 deadline remains the current filing date unless Judge Aryeh Schwartz issues a new order.
Read the court filings: Below are the June 2026 filings in State v. Jodi Arias, including the defense motion for more time, the State’s response, the defense reply and the State’s request for oral argument.
Nearly 40 years after Rebecca “Becky” Beard disappeared from Freeport, Texas, her family is still searching for the answer that matters most.
Where is Becky?
Rebecca “Becky” Beard disappeared in March 1986. Her family continues searching for information that could help locate her remains.
Now, her family wants the public to hear information from a woman known as “Rio.” Her account includes disturbing claims about what may have happened to Becky and where someone may have taken her remains.
However, an important warning comes with Rio’s story.
According to Becky’s family, prosecutors recently presented information involving Rio to a Brazoria County grand jury. Family members say the grand jury took no action.
Becky’s family also says the Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office told them investigators did not consider Rio a credible witness.
I am not presenting Rio’s statements as established facts.
Still, Becky’s family believes parts of her account could contain accurate information. They hope releasing these details reaches someone who knows what happened or where to find Becky.
Who Was Rebecca “Becky” Beard?
Rebecca “Becky” Beard pictured with her daughter before Becky disappeared from Freeport, Texas, in March 1986.
Becky Beard was 22 years old when she disappeared after spending the night at the Excalibur Club in Freeport on March 1, 1986.
She never came home.
Investigators have never recovered her body.
Years later, Paul Taylor Jr. pleaded guilty in connection with Becky’s death. Despite that conviction, her family has spent decades trying to find her remains.
That search continues today.
Who Is the Witness Known as Rio?
Cherie “Rio” Starr stands near Tammy Rose’s Jeep during an interview connected to the Rebecca “Becky” Beard investigation.
During my investigation, I tracked down Cherie “Rio” Starr, a woman who has provided an account of events surrounding Becky’s disappearance.
Rio made several specific and disturbing claims. Some involve what allegedly happened to Becky’s body and where people may have taken her remains.
Investigators have not established those claims as fact.
According to Becky’s family, the district attorney told them authorities did not find Rio credible.
Still, one reason the family has not completely dismissed her story is that some details appear to connect with information they already knew about Becky’s life before she disappeared.
The Galveston Weekend in Becky’s Planner
Becky Beard’s personal planner contains entries documenting events and trips in the weeks before her March 1986 disappearance.
One detail deserves closer examination.
Becky kept a planner. An entry documents a weekend trip to Galveston from February 14 through February 16, 1986, just weeks before she disappeared.
Becky was dating Beaver Aplin at the time.
Rio described an incident involving Aplin during which she said he got down on his knees with a dozen roses, jewelry and bottles.
That detail caught the family’s attention because Becky’s mother, Linda Barnes, already knew about Becky’s Galveston weekend.
Linda recalled Becky returning from the trip and throwing away roses.
Her mother asked her why she was throwing them away.
According to Linda, Becky did not want to talk about it.
That does not prove Rio’s account.
It does, however, raise a question for the family: How much of Rio’s story, if any, could be independently verified?
Becky’s planner documents the Galveston weekend. Her mother remembers the roses. Rio later provided an account involving roses and the man Becky was dating.
The family believes those details are worth examining rather than ignoring.
Family Says Evidence Was Presented to a Grand Jury
A remote dirt road in the Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge near the area where witness Cherie Lynette “Rio” Starr claims Rebecca “Becky” Beard was buried.
Becky’s family says prosecutors recently presented evidence involving Rio to a Brazoria County grand jury.
According to family members, the grand jury took no action.
They also say the district attorney told them authorities did not consider Rio a credible witness.
Those details matter.
Rio’s claims are not established facts.
I am not presenting them as proof of what happened to Becky.
Instead, the family wants to know whether someone else can independently confirm any part of her account.
Why Release Rio’s Story?
There is a simple reason.
Becky still has not been found.
Almost four decades have passed since she disappeared. People who were young adults in 1986 are now much older. Some witnesses have died. Properties have changed. Memories have faded.
That makes information from people who were there increasingly important.
The family understands authorities have questioned Rio’s credibility. They also understand that a grand jury took no action after hearing information related to her account, according to what family members say they were told.
Still, they cannot get past the possibility that one detail could be true even if other parts of a witness’s story are not.
The Galveston weekend is one reason they continue asking questions.
Someone May Remember Something
Texas Department of Public Safety missing person bulletin for Rebecca “Becky” Beard, who disappeared in 1986.
Maybe you were at the Excalibur Club.
Maybe you knew Becky, Paul Taylor Jr., Beaver Aplin or Rio.
Maybe you remember the Galveston weekend in February 1986.
Maybe you heard a conversation afterward.
Or perhaps you know something about a location connected to the case.
The family isn’t asking people to speculate. They are looking for firsthand information that can be independently checked.
If you know something, even if it seemed insignificant at the time, consider coming forward.
After nearly 40 years, Becky’s family isn’t looking for rumors.
They are looking for Becky.
Carol Mize shows areas she has searched while continuing to look for answers in the 1986 disappearance of her sister, Rebecca “Becky” Beard.
This article is part of my continuing independent investigation into the disappearance and death of Rebecca “Becky” Beard. Statements attributed to witnesses represent their accounts unless independently corroborated. The inclusion of any person’s name does not imply criminal conduct or involvement in Becky’s death.
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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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.
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.
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.
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’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
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?
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
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
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.
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.
Juan Laureles Cold Case: Texas Rangers Seek New Tips 30 Years Later
Nearly 30 years after Juan Leon Laureles was found shot to death beside his burning car, Texas investigators are making a renewed push for answers.
The Texas Department of Public Safety announced that authorities are seeking new information in the Juan Laureles cold case. Laureles, 30, died in Brown County in May 1996.
Now, investigators hope someone who knows what happened will finally come forward.
Juan Laureles Found Beside Burning Car
On May 10, 1996, Brown County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a vehicle fire at about 12:30 a.m.
The fire occurred along FM 2126 near the railroad crossing and the access road to the Brownwood Rifle and Pistol Range.
When deputies arrived, they found Laureles dead next to his burning 1988 Ford Thunderbird.
Investigators determined that someone had shot Laureles in the back of the head. Someone also set his vehicle on fire.
Stolen Credit Card Used After Murder
Investigators discovered another important clue.
Someone stole Laureles’ credit card and used it at a Bealls Department Store in the area later that same day.
Authorities still want information about those transactions.
In addition, investigators want to hear from anyone who remembers seeing Laureles’ Ford Thunderbird or other vehicles near the murder scene that night.
Texas Rangers Continue Investigating Juan Laureles Cold Case
Investigators have followed numerous leads during the past three decades. However, they have not made an arrest.
The Brown County Sheriff’s Office and Texas Rangers continue to actively investigate the murder.
Authorities believe people in the community may still have information that could help solve the case.
Even a detail that seemed insignificant in 1996 could potentially give investigators a new lead today.
Reward Increased to $6,000
Texas Crime Stoppers has increased the reward to up to $6,000 for information that leads to an arrest in the case.
However, the increased reward remains available only until DPS announces its next featured Texas Rangers cold case.
Anyone seeking the cash reward must submit the information through Texas Crime Stoppers.
Tipsters can call 1-800-252-TIPS (tel:1-800-252-TIPS) (8477) or submit information through the official Texas Crime Stoppers tip system.
Nearly 30 Years Without Answers
Three decades have passed since someone killed Juan Laureles.
Yet murder has no statute of limitations in Texas, and investigators have not closed the case.
The Texas Rangers continue reviewing unsolved homicides in hopes that new information, witnesses or investigative methods can provide the break detectives need.
For Laureles’ case, that break could come from someone who remembers what happened on May 10, 1996.
Anyone with information should contact Texas Crime Stoppers.
Source: Texas Department of Public Safety
The official DPS release is here: Texas DPS — Juan Laureles Cold Case. DPS confirms the $6,000 enhanced reward applies if an eligible tip comes in before the next featured Texas Rangers cold case is announced.
Planning a Texas trip?
If your travels take you through Brown County or elsewhere in Texas, you can compare hotel options and rates through Hotels.com.
Interested in Texas cold cases?
Readers who follow unsolved cases can browse Texas true crime books on Amazon.
