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SMITH COUNTY – A Tyler man has been sentenced to life in prison for murdering his father in an argument over a dog.

According to a report from the Tyler Morning Telegraph, Christopher Tilley entered a guilty plea on Tuesday morning in the 241st District Court for the shooting death of his father, Dell Howard Tilley, 79, on March 25th 2024. The arrest documents report that the father and son were fighting over the care of an injured dog.

During an interview at the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, Christopher Tilley told investigators that his father was upset over the way he was caring for a dog inside his father’s bedroom. During the argument, Dell Tilley allegedly came across the room, grabbed Christopher by the neck, and began choking him. The two men struggled on the ground before Christopher Tilley retrieved a firearm from his waistband, attesting that he thought he only fired once.

According to officers, Tilley’s recollection is inconsistent with their findings. Dell Tilley ultimately died from the gunshot wounds. Continue reading Tyler man sentenced to life in prison for murdering father

TYLER — Our news partner KETK reports that The Tyler City Council approved a resolution on Wednesday in support of a grant used to build a share use path that will connect Downtown Tyler, hospitals and Tyler Junior College.

The Midtown to Downtown Shared Use Path is aimed to be a two and a half mile, 10 foot-wide path that would connect popular Tyler destinations such as Downtown Tyler, the new Smith County Courthouse and UT Tyler School of Medicine.

This path would be an accessible way for Tylerites to travel on foot from East Fifth Street to South Broadway Avenue. Safety standards for the path include access ramps, lighting, wide concrete trails, signalized intersections and more.

Though the path has an estimated $4.8 million price tag, the city expects to qualify for Transportation Development Credits which would completely fund the project through grants instead of a local match. If funding is awarded, the Texas Department of Transportation will help design and develop the project.

UPDATE: According to the Tyler Police Department, Aiden has been found safe and returned to his family.

TYLER – The Tyler Police Department is currently searching for a missing 15-year-old boy who is reported to have autism. According to our news partner KETK and Tyler PD, Aiden was reported missing at 5:15 p.m. and was last seen walking away from a home in the 400th block of Sutherland Drive. According to officials, he was last seen wearing a black zip-up hoodie, jeans and black shoes.

“His name is Aiden, and he is 15 years old, 5’9 and 120lbs with blonde hair and blue eyes,” Tyler Police Department said.

Authorities are asking anyone who may have seen Aiden or know his location to please contact the Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000.

UPDATE: According to our news partner KETK, Nacogdoches Police Department, officers are still investigating the three family members that died in a home on Mystic Lane in Nacogdoches. Officials said the investigation is focusing on possible air pollutants in the home that might have caused the deaths. The family members have been identified as Amy Manning Kirk, 52, William Manning Kirk, 22, and John Standley Kirk, 17.

NACOGDOCHES– Carbon monoxide poisoning is being considered after three adults were found dead Thursday afternoon inside a home in Nacogdoches, according to our news partner KETK.

Nacogdoches Police Department, officers and firefighters were on scene at the 4300 block of Mystic Lane for a death investigation. Initially officers responded to perform a welfare check on a resident, but upon arrival they found three adults dead inside the home and no sign of foul play. The identities of the deceased are being withheld pending notification of their family.

“Although it is early in the investigation, carbon monoxide poisoning is being considered as a potential cause,” officials said. “CenterPoint Energy is also on scene to help determine the cause.”
Continue reading Police ID three found dead inside Nacogdoches home

UPSHUR COUNTY — According to our news parnter KETK, a jury found a 56-year-old man guilty of failure to register as sex offender and sentenced him to life in prison on Wednesday as a habitual offender on account of his prior convictions. In 2023, Ronald Wayne Stivers of Illinois was a registered sex offender in Mississippi before he fled the state and moved in with a woman in Gladewater, according to officials. Stivers reportedly met the woman through Facebook and alternated his identity by lying about his name and changing his license plate.

Once his true identity was uncovered, the woman forced Stivers out of her home and he was later arrested on June 17, 2024. Officials said Stivers was sentenced to life in prison on June 11, 2025 as a habitual offender. Continue reading Sex offender hiding in Gladewater gets life in prison

ANDERSON COUNTY – Thursday’s heavy rains in Anderson County caused several road closings and mother and her child were rescued in a high water situation. According to our news partner KETK, Christina Crockett, from the Anderson County Emergency Management Office, urged residents to use caution, especially in low-lying areas.

In Palestine, Slocum’s Swiftwater Rescue Team received a call in rural Palestine for Laura Foster and her 2-year-old daughter who were trapped on top of their vehicle. They were brought to safety by the rescue team, who responded to multiple people stranded because of high water.

There are dozens of roads across Anderson County are flooded over or completely washed out.
Continue reading Anderson County flooding causes closed roads and water rescues

UPSHUR COUNTY – A jury found a 56-year-old man guilty of failure to register as sex offender, and sentenced him to life in prison on Wednesday as a habitual offender on account of his prior convictions.

On May 16, 1986, the Defendant was sentenced for Theft in the State of Illinois. On July 5, 1989, the Defendant pled guilty to Criminal Trespass of Habitation in the State of Illinois.

On June 11, 1998, he was sentenced for Aggravated Sexual Assault (Adult Woman), Felony Escape, Aggravated Criminal Sexual Assault with Deadly Weapon (Knife),and Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child nine years of age in the State of Illinois. Continue reading Man who failed to register as sex offender found in Gladewater

LONGVIEW – A 22-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday after robbing local dollar stores in Longview, according to our news partner KETK.

The Longview Police Department received multiple reports of thefts that occurred at local dollar stores over the weekend, and after investigating they determined that only one of the incidents qualified as a robbery.

Further investigation led the suspect to be identified as Daqalyn Charles, 22 of Longview. Officers were able to locate and arrest him in the act of another theft. Officials said during the arrest Charles was found to be in possession of illegal drugs and was additionally charged with possession of a controlled substance.

Charles was booked into the Gregg County Jail and is being held on a bond totaling $310,000.

NACOGDOCHES – Carbon monoxide poisoning is being considered after three adults were found dead Thursday afternoon inside a home in Nacogdoches, According to the Nacogdoches Police Department an our news partner KETK.

Officers and firefighters responded to the scene at 4300 block of Mystic Lane for a death investigation. Initially officers responded to perform a welfare check on a resident, but upon arrival found three adults dead inside the home and no sign of foul play.

“Although it is early in the investigation, carbon monoxide poisoning is being considered as a potential cause,” officials said. “CenterPoint Energy is also on scene to help determine the cause. The identities of the deceased are being withheld pending notification of their family.”

The department said further information will be released as it becomes available.

KILGORE– Over the past two weeks, five men have been arrested for online solicitation of a minor after a sting operation in Kilgore. According to the Kilgore Police Department and our news partner KETK, multiple departments have been working together in an online solicitation of a minor investigation.

All but one man drove into Kilgore to meet up for sex with a minor and were arrested by detectives. Marshall Anthony Knapik, 27 of Longview, is being held on a $25,000 bond. Dale Edward Shelton, 34 of Tyler, is being held on a $25,000 bond. Alvaro Andres Rosas-Delgado, 23 of Longview, is being held on a $50,000 bond. Ryan Hampsten Jacks, 34 of Troup, is being held on a $40,000 bond.

Casey Stinson of Bowie had planned to make a trip after his girlfriend went to work, but couldn’t change his flat tire, so he was arrested by the Palo Pinto County Sheriff’s Office after Kilgore PD learned he would not be making the trip.

PALESTINE — Many roads across East Texas have been closed due to heavy rains and flooding.

Our news partner KETK has compiled a list of roads and highways currently closed or flooded to keep residents safe and informed. To view the full and updated list, click here.

BULLARD – Our news partner KETK reports that one person is dead after an alleged drunk driver’s vehicle flipped over onto a fence on Wednesday night in Bullard.

According to the court documents, around 8 p.m. a trooper responded to an one vehicle roll-over on County Road 3601 where a man was by the road saying “his passenger was missing.”

The trooper said the man, identified as 30-year-old Cordale Rayshon Graham, smelled of alcohol and kept saying “he was the passenger because he was drunk.”

Bullard Fire Department located the other person who was dead on the passenger side of the vehicle. Continue reading Drunk driver arrested after truck flips, leaving passenger dead

SMITH COUNTY – Our news partner, KETK, reports that several wrecks involving 18-wheelers are causing delays on Interstate 20 for drivers. Officials say that traffic delays could last into early Friday morning.

According to a crew on the scene, at least two crashes involving tractor trailers have caused traffic to be backed up near Mile Marker 560 which is near Farm-to-Market Road 14 and Lavender Road.

TxDOT cameras show heavy traffic in the westbound lanes. Updates will be given as they become available.

To check for wrecks, and traffic conditions on TxDOT’s “Drive Texas”, click here.

RUSK – Our news partner KETK reports that the execution date has been set for an East Texas man who helped murder his girlfriend’s baby with a hammer in 2008.

According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), 35-year-old Blaine Milam of Gregg County is set to be executed on September 25 for his involvement in the murder of his girlfriend’s 13-month-daughter during what they described as an “exorcism.”

On Dec. 2, 2008 in Rusk County, Milam and his girlfriend, Jessica Carson murdered the infant by using a hammer to beat her. They also attest to biting her on the chest, arms, throat, feet and lower back. In confession, the couple told authorities that they were trying to “beat the demons out” of the baby. Continue reading Execution set for Rusk man who murdered infant in an ‘exorcism’