Today is
Sunday June 14, 2026
LONGVIEW — A Longview woman has been sentenced to 25 years in prison after shooting her father in the face twice and failing to follow probationary terms. According to KETK, in June 2013, Tabetha Evans, 28, shot her father, Carlos Warren, three times with a .38 revolver. He was struck by bullets twice in the face and once in the abdomen, but he survived the shooting. Evans was caught by law enforcement walking away from the crime scene carrying a tote bag. The gun was located inside the bag. She was using drugs at the time of the offense. In December 2013, Evans pleaded guilty to aggravated assault against a family member and was placed on ten years deferred probation with intensive in-patient drug treatment as a condition, stated the Gregg County District Attorney’s Office. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — A Longview man has been arrested following a warrant for animal cruelty. Curtis William Taylor, 31, was arrested on October 6 around 3:30. On September 27, the Longview Police Department was contacted about a cat that had been intentionally injured. Police said Taylor had become upset with the cat because she had scratched his puppy across the nose and a short time later attacked the puppy again. Taylor then struck the cat with a baseball bat. The veterinarian said the cat, Anastasia, had a fracture on the left side of her skull and her left eye had to be removed. Anastasia is recovering with her owner John Mills. Taylor remains in Gregg County jail without bond.
LONGVIEW — A Longview man has been charged with intoxication manslaughter after a deadly wreck Friday night. The crash happened around 10:15 on Eastman Road. Police said Corie Michael Murray, 27, was heading north when he drifted into oncoming traffic, hitting a vehicle head-on. That driver, Lanette Andrews, 47, and the passenger, her mother, Billie Griffin Andrews, 64, both from Woodville, were taken to a local hospital. Billie Andrews died as a result of her injuries. Lanette Andrews was treated for non-life threatening injuries. Murray refused medical treatment at the scene and was arrested for intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle, intoxication assault with serious bodily injury and possession of marijuana. He was booked into the Gregg County Jail on $51,000.00 bond. He was previously arrested July, 9 for possession of marijuana.
WOOD COUNTY — A federal lawsuit has been filed on behalf of eight people against former Wood County Sheriff James Brown, former Wood County Sheriff’s Office Captain Miles Tucker, several current and former Wood County deputies and Jerry Wayne Boone for unconstitutional use of excessive force, illegal arrest and state claims. According to KETK, the suit is based on the shootings of Winston Forrester and his father John Forrester on November 2, 2015. The two were reportedly accessing their oil well that was situated on the former sheriff’s property. Read the rest of this entry »
EAST TEXAS — Several East Texas counties are moving forward with lawsuits against opioid manufacturers and distributors. The Smith County Commissioners Court has hired two law firms to pursue such litigation. Upshur County has already become the first in the state to file such a lawsuit, demanding financial help to deal with the cost of treating addicts in the county’s jail and indigent health program. An attorney representing Upshur County says drug companies share some responsibility for pushing their products. KETK and the Longview News-Journal report Rusk County has also agreed to join the litigation. Similar lawsuits have been filed in other states, and other counties in Texas are expected to do likewise.
GRAND SALINE — Grand Saline Police Chief Justin Collins has resigned from his post following his Tuesday afternoon arrest. According to KETK, Collins turned himself in and was charged with theft of property. He immediately bonded out of jail. The Grand Saline Police Department in July confirmed Collins had been placed on administrative leave, pending an investigation. Texas Municipal Police Association Executive Director Kevin Lawrance said a “litany” of complaints had been lodged against Chief Collins. Some of the complaints are policy issues and more serious matters are criminal in nature. This includes possible fraud, theft and abuse of capacity.
TYLER — Tyler Junior College police are investigating a reported sexual assault. According to KETK, police received a report of a sexual assault in an on-campus dorm on September 28. An alert was sent out by the TJC Alert system following the report. Police say the investigation is ongoing and students should use caution with unknown persons. Additional information was not available.
TYLER — Former mayor and longtime civic leader Barbara Bass made it clear she didn’t do it alone as she was honored Tuesday with the T.B. Butler Award as Tyler’s most outstanding citizen — given each year at the annual meeting of the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce. While thanking the Chamber for the honor, Bass told attendees, “When we work together as a community, we not only change this community for the greater good — but we change the lives of people around us. Folks — it is about community.” Bass also stressed the importance of her religious faith in her community endeavors. Read the rest of this entry »
FORT DRUM, N.Y. (AP) – U.S. Army officials say a soldier from Texas serving with the 10th Mountain Division’s Louisiana-based brigade combat team has been killed by an improvised explosive device in Iraq. Officials at Fort Drum in northern New York say Spc. Alexander Missildine, 20, Tyler, was killed Sunday when an IED detonated near his convoy. Missildine served with the division’s 710th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team based at Fort Polk, Louisiana. The division’s other two brigade combat teams are based at Fort Drum. Read the rest of this entry »
HENDERSON COUNTY – Numerous law enforcement agencies are searching for the armed suspect accused of assaulting a deputy. It started Thursday night when a Henderson County Sheriff’s Deputy stopped to check on a suspicious man walking on FM 607 south of Leaugeville. The suspect reportedly struck the deputy in the face with a pistol and ran. The deputy was treated and released from the hospital. The suspect is described as a white man wearing dark clothing and should be considered armed and dangerous. Henderson County Crime Stoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for information to the suspects arrest.
GREGG COUNTY — A Kilgore man is back in jail to face intoxication manslaughter charges. According to the Longview News-Journal, Thomas Elliot Henkel, 34, is accused of causing a wreck June 8, 2016, on Loop 281 that killed 16-year-old Lauren Elrod of Harleton. He had been on the lam since failing to appear in court Aug. 11. Henkel was arrested Wednesday, and 124th District Judge Alfonso Charles increased his bond to $250,000. He is scheduled to appear in court again Oct. 6. Read the rest of this entry »
HENDERSON COUNTY — A Tyler man has been charged with murder following a Wednesday night shooting. Dennis Odell Metcalf, 40, was found at a home in Chandler and surrendered to deputies without incident. He reportedly admitted to fatally shooting a 24-year-old man from Murchison. Metcalf was booked into jail. Bond has not been set. The unidentified man’s body was sent to Dallas for autopsy. No word on a motive.
LONGVIEW — A Texas man was busted in Longview allegedly moving more than two pounds of heroin on a bus. According to KETK, on August 16, the County Organized Drug Enforcement Unit, assisted by a DPS K-9 unit, was checking for drug trafficking on a bus owned by Tornado Bus Lines when the discovery was made. Law enforcement found about 2.5 pounds of heroin in possession of Daniel Miranda, 42, of Carrollton. The suspect was arrested and charged with manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance. He was booked into the Gregg County Jail. Miranda was released two days later on $100,000 bond.
EAST TEXAS — Two men are sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking. 40-year-old Quentin Brown of Gilmer and 23-year-old Saihaine Freeman of Longview (pictured) pleaded guilty May 30th to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine. Brown was sentenced to 144 months, Freeman was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison. The two were sentenced Tuesday.
EAST TEXAS — An East Texas oil worker has been abducted in Yemen. According to KETK, it reportedly happened in a busy street, in the middle of the day. Danny Burch, 62, moved to Yemen about 15 years ago. He was working in the oil field as a mechanic. Friends of Burch said he grew up in White Oak and lived in Kilgore for years. Danny’s family isn’t sure why he was abducted. But with a military background, his brother Ron believes Danny is being held to barter for another prisoner of war.