Pit Bull Attack, Murder Among Family Tragedies

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..