Rotting evidence jeopardizes investigations

SEVEN POINTS – Mold and water damage have compromised police evidence left for months inside an abandoned former city hall building, once used by the Seven Points Police Department. One case is already in jeopardy — and more could follow.

According to our news partner KETK, the City of Seven Points received an email from the Henderson County District Attorney’s Office on April 22 requesting evidence for an active criminal case. But when staff searched their new evidence storage container, the requested evidence was nowhere to be found.

Back in March 2025, the City of Seven Points City Hall and police station building at 428. E Cedar Creek Parkway was significantly damaged in a storm. The roof was ripped off from the police station side of the building during the storm, taking out a electricity pole in the process and leaving the structure without power.

According to the City of Seven Points, power could not be restored to the former city hall building, prompting the mayor and police chief to coordinate a relocation plan. Mayor Keith Betts was responsible for moving the city’s administrative offices and records, while former Police Chief Raymond Wennerstrom was tasked with overseeing the police department’s move, including the transfer of its evidence room.

The police department had moved into their new temporary location by the time Wennerstrom requested a Conex container to store all the evidence from their damaged evidence room. On April 9, 2025, the container was installed at the old fire station building with a mini-split air conditioner to control the temperature of sensitive evidence like rape kits, which contain DNA evidence.

Wennerstrom resigned from his position as chief of police for the Seven Points Police Department in November of 2025.

Now, more than a year after the container was set up, they received the email request for evidence from the Henderson County District Attorney.

According to the City of Seven Points, the requested evidence was not found inside the year?old Conex container. Police department officials then searched the abandoned former City Hall building, where they discovered that evidence had been left behind. The city reports that a significant portion of it was deteriorated, damaged by mold and water.

They also discovered that the evidence room’s refrigerated storage sat unpowered for over a year while still containing sexual assault evidence collection kits. “This evidence was not removed and placed into the new evidence lockers following the March 4, 2025, storm,” the City of Seven Points said.

On April 29, at around 9:30 a.m., members of the DA’s office conducted a formal investigation into the condition of the evidence that the police department is supposed to supervise.

“To date, we do not know if this will have any effect on pending criminal cases, but we will continue to be transparent through the process and keep the public updated as this investigation proceeds,” the City of Seven Points said.