A Mount Vernon man was arrested on Monday on a murder warrant after a 69-year old man was found deceased in his home and his vehicle burned in a nearby area.
According to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, Jeffery Dale Shelby is being held in the Franklin County Jail on a $1 million bond and was the roommate of Murrell Dempsey Newman, who was found deceased on Saturday.
On May 20, the FCSO responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle on CR 4315 and upon arrival, the responding deputy found that the vehicle in question appeared to have been burned.
“At the time of the investigation into the circumstances surround the vehicle and its owner, it led to the discovery of a separate crime scene in the Pelican Bay development of Lake Cypress Springs,” said Sheriff Ricky Jones.
At the scene, Newman, the vehicle’s owner, was found deceased at inside of his residence.
Based on the statements and evidence collected by the responding deputy, Franklin County Criminal Investigators and Texas DPS Texas Rangers were called to the scene in Pelican Bay and a homicide investigation was initiated in the death of Newman.
On Monday, an arrest warrant for the offence of Murder was issued for Newman’s roommate. Shelby.
Shelby was arrested by the FCSO Investigators and is currently being held in the Franklin County Jail on a $1 million bond.
A Probation Violation warrant for Aggravated Family Violence Assault was also issued for Shelby on the same day, according to Sheriff Jones.
Bond for that charge was set at $250,000.
Sheriff Jones requests that anyone who may have any information in reference to this case is urged to contact the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office at 903-537-4539.
“We would lime to thank Franklin Water District Lake Patrol Chief Dana Reeves and Lake Patrol Officer Colby Horn, the Mount Vernon Police Department, and Texas Department of Public Safety – Texas Rangers Division for the assistance and support in this case.”
