Suspected Wife-Beater Found Dead on His Property

LANEVILLE — The case against a suspected wife-beater comes to an end with the suspect’s death. The Rusk County Sheriff’s Office received information about the location of Ernest Maynard Brinkmann, who was wanted for aggravated assault. Brinkmann was on the run after officials say he severely beat his wife. The sheriff’s office requested help from a Texas Department of Public Safety Aviation Unit in catching the 68-year-old. Once the DPS unit arrived in the area of his house, Brinkmann was spotted on his property on County Road 4170 South in Laneville. After further investigation by the Rusk County Criminal Investigation Unit, Brinkmann was discovered to have suffered from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. At approximately 11:15 a.m., Brinkmann was pronounced dead by Darlene Childress, Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4.

The sheriff’s office got an aggravated assault call Saturday morning from Brinkmann’s residence. Deputies found a 63-year-old woman who had been assaulted in her home. The woman was admitted to a local hospital because of the injuries she sustained from the assault. She told deputies her estranged husband attacked her, gathered some of his belongings — including a gun — and left the house. Authorities say Brinkmann drove away, and investigators obtained a warrant for his arrest.