East Texas

By KENNETH DEAN
Staff Writer

HENDERSON — The man who told authorities he killed an 18-year-old Price man for breaking into his home last week has been charged with possession of chemicals needed to manufacture meth.

Brence Wayne Darragh was told of the new second-degree felony charge against him while sitting in the Rusk County Jail where he is being held on murder charges in the death of Michael Knight, of Price.

Rusk County Sheriff’s Investigator Jack Tully said Darragh was charged Tuesday and his girlfriend, Hannah Alyse LePelley, 19, of Henderson, was arrested at a drug/alcohol rehabilitation center in Shreveport, La., Wednesday morning.

Shreveport police confirmed they have the woman in their city jail and said she would be extradited to East Texas in the next couple of days.

Ms. LePelley’s brother, Jack Edward “Trey” LePelly, was shot and killed in 2006 when he went to former Army Ranger Michael Alan Loun’s home in Henderson. Loun was found guilty during a third trial and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Tully said there was evidence of a meth lab at Darragh’s home on County Road 488D when deputies responded to an “intruder being shot” call.

“It was basically a meth lab that had been torn down, but all of the stuff was there on site to make more meth,” he said. “We would have charged them then, but we had to evaluate the lab and the chemicals and make sure it really was what we thought it was.”

Rusk County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Darryl Norris said Darragh called 911 last week and reported there was an intruder in his home, about one mile west of Price.

“Originally the call came in as a break-in but we’re thinking that story just doesn’t fly,” he said at the scene.

Resting against the wall of the home on the front porch was a 30.30 rifle believed to be the weapon used in the shooting.

A knife was found in the home, but Norris said it was on a table and not near the deceased man.

One investigator on the scene said Knight was found in a chair with a bullet wound to the chest and another to his neck.

Tully said the Castle Law, which allows homeowners to use deadly force to protect themselves and their property, did not apply in the case because Darragh was not in danger.

“If he sits down and props his feet up and says he isn’t leaving, then you have other things you can do instead of kill him. If you feel your life is threatened then you have the right to protect yourself, but (Knight) went there to get some more dope,” he said. “Darragh may not have known why Knight showed up, but LePelley did.”