Posted 11:42 pm Saturday, August 04, 2012
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Double Homicide in Van Zandt; decomposition hampers ID; person of interest sought
By KENNETH DEAN
kdean@tylerpaper.com
BEN WHEELER — Law enforcement agencies across the state and in neighboring states are on the lookout for a person of interest in a double slaying in Van Zandt County.
kdean@tylerpaper.com
BEN WHEELER — Law enforcement agencies across the state and in neighboring states are on the lookout for a person of interest in a double slaying in Van Zandt County.
Van Zandt County Sheriff Pat Burnett said his office got a welfare concern call about 10 a.m. Friday at a residence at 2221 County Road 4812.
“The family member who called us said they smelled a strange odor and no one would respond to the door,” he said.
Burnett said when deputies arrived, they found the two bodies in the single-wide mobile home.
Although authorities would not confirm the identity of the victims in the home, a family member said the family was devastated.
Records indicate 74-year-old Peter Shick and 55-year-old Latricia Shick lived at the home.
“We just saw them earlier in the week, well I guess it was Sunday. This is just horrible,” a family member, who did not want to give his name, said at the scene.
Burnett said the Texas Rangers were assisting his office by conducting the crime scene investigation.
Van Zandt County District Attorney Chris Martin said due to information gathered at the scene and interviews, they had developed a person of interest in the case, but other than saying, “he” several times, he would not elaborate.
Martin said the couple had been dead several days and because of the decomposition of the bodies, investigators on the scene could not determine how they died.
Martin said the identities would not be confirmed until after autopsies can be completed at the Southwest Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas.
“We are calling this a possible double homicide at this time,” he said before again stating there was a person of interest actively being sought.
Burnett confirmed that a Ford Expedition taken from the scene was stolen from Kaufman County earlier in the week and that the couple's vehicle was missing from the scene.
Burnett also said the case spanned multiple counties, but he would not divulge any additional information.
The family member said the missing vehicle was a white four-door 2012 Dodge pickup.
“They had just got it about a month ago,” the man said.
Neighbor Carolyn Guthrie said the incident had her worried.
“This is shocking that it happened here,” she said standing in the middle of CR 4812. “They were peaceful people who didn't bother anyone.”
Mrs. Guthrie said she was going back to her home and locking her doors.
Residents in the area reiterated Mrs. Guthrie's fears and many worried whoever was responsible might still be in the area.
“We don't have any reason to believe that the person is in this area. We have given vehicle information and the person of interest's information to all area and state law enforcement so they can be on the lookout for this person,” Martin said.
Burnett said when deputies arrived, they found the two bodies in the single-wide mobile home.
Although authorities would not confirm the identity of the victims in the home, a family member said the family was devastated.
Records indicate 74-year-old Peter Shick and 55-year-old Latricia Shick lived at the home.
“We just saw them earlier in the week, well I guess it was Sunday. This is just horrible,” a family member, who did not want to give his name, said at the scene.
Burnett said the Texas Rangers were assisting his office by conducting the crime scene investigation.
Van Zandt County District Attorney Chris Martin said due to information gathered at the scene and interviews, they had developed a person of interest in the case, but other than saying, “he” several times, he would not elaborate.
Martin said the couple had been dead several days and because of the decomposition of the bodies, investigators on the scene could not determine how they died.
Martin said the identities would not be confirmed until after autopsies can be completed at the Southwest Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas.
“We are calling this a possible double homicide at this time,” he said before again stating there was a person of interest actively being sought.
Burnett confirmed that a Ford Expedition taken from the scene was stolen from Kaufman County earlier in the week and that the couple's vehicle was missing from the scene.
Burnett also said the case spanned multiple counties, but he would not divulge any additional information.
The family member said the missing vehicle was a white four-door 2012 Dodge pickup.
“They had just got it about a month ago,” the man said.
Neighbor Carolyn Guthrie said the incident had her worried.
“This is shocking that it happened here,” she said standing in the middle of CR 4812. “They were peaceful people who didn't bother anyone.”
Mrs. Guthrie said she was going back to her home and locking her doors.
Residents in the area reiterated Mrs. Guthrie's fears and many worried whoever was responsible might still be in the area.
“We don't have any reason to believe that the person is in this area. We have given vehicle information and the person of interest's information to all area and state law enforcement so they can be on the lookout for this person,” Martin said.
