Pit Bull Attack, Murder Among Family Tragedies
Posted/updated on: March 7, 2011 at 12:24 pm
LONGVIEW — On November 10, three weeks before the first of two defendants was found guilty in his son’s death, Kelvin Muckleroy’s grandson, Kaden Muckleroy, died in a Henderson hospital after a pit bull attack.
Helen Muckleroy was the victim’s older sister. Three months ago, she laid to rest her 2-year-old son, Kaden, who was mauled outside his grandfather’s home by a pit bull. The dog belonged to Muckleroy Jr. and was rescued after the 2009 fire.“People just didn’t know. That’s why we had that dog in our yard,” she said. Despite her losses, including Wednesday when she was inconsolable after hearing Lockridge’s testimony, Helen Muckleroy said the words that gave her family resolve.“As long as it is not an innocent verdict, there is still a chance,” she said. “There is still a chance.”
A mistrial was declared in Toronto Lockridge’s murder trial in Gregg County. On Friday, Gregg County District Judge Alfonso Charles declared a mistrial in co-defendant Toronto Eldermek Lockridge’s murder case. After more than two days of testimony and six hours of deliberations, the jury deadlocked 11-1 on whether Lockridge was involved in the September 2009 shooting and arson of Kelvin Muckleroy Jr. A new trial in two months at the earliest is the silver lining for both sides. Lockridge and co-defendant Brandon Quadnell Horne face up to 99 years or life in prison if convicted of fatally shooting Muckleroy Jr. in the head and burning down his house..