Leah Donnice Martin, 22
Billy Minkley, Jr.
Ross Hellams
3 Charged with Murder in Leah Martin Case
Graham police say a third arrest has been made in connection with the murder of 23-year-old Leah Martin, and now three men are charged with capital murder.
Graham Police Chief Tony Widner says 43-year-old Elton Carroll Blaire (E.C. Blair) has now been arrested for capital murder and for tampering with evidence to wit a human corpse.
Police have set up crime scene tape around EC's Auto Shop.
Graham police say after interviewing 42-year-old Billy Minkley Jr., who was arrested a few weeks ago and is accused of digging Martin's makeshift grave, they were given a reason to go back and search the auto shop a second time where they found evidence that they say led to Blaire's arrest.
Police say Minkley also admitted to he and others being involved in a homicide in Fort Worth in 2014.
Earlier this week we obtained the autopsy report for Leah Martin which indicates she was murdered.
The Tarrant County autopsy report shows a plastic bag and plastic wrap were found over her head and around her neck, indicating she died by asphyxiation by means of homicidal violence.
It also shows there was a rock found inside her mouth.
The forensic anthropology exam indicated there was no identified trauma of the skull, or trauma to various other parts of her body.
Martin, who was the mother of a 2-year-old, was last seen in Graham on May 29.
Billy Minkley Jr., and 42-year-old Ross Hellams', who was in control of the land where Martin was found ten miles west of Graham, were previously arrested.
Graham police say all of three are being formally charged with capital murder.being pursued by the Fort Worth Police Department.
Martin was last seen in May of this year, with a formal investigation beginning on May 29, 2015.
On August 5, 2015 investigators discovered her body buried on property under the control of Ross Hellams.
An autopsy completed in Tarrant County revealed she died from asphyxiation by means of homicidal violence, after a plastic bag and plastic wrappings were discovered around her face and neck, and a rock was found inside her mouth.
One of the three suspects charged in Martin's murder is also a suspect in a triple homicide in Fort Worth last year.
Graham Police Chief Tony Widner says Minkley also admitted to involvement in the Fort Worth murders during his questioning.
Fort Worth police say the bodies of three people shot to death were found on June 2, 2014.
Ronney Jackson, Elizabeth Sessums (his common law wife), and David Adams, were found dead in Jackson and Sessum's home in west Fort Worth.
Police believe Jackson and Sessums were the targets, and Adams just happened to be visiting at the time.
Neighbors say they saw nothing suspicious, and did not hear any gunshots.
Investigators apparently had no motive or suspects until the break that came with the Martin case.
They say the couple were known drug users.
Minkley has a lengthy criminal record in Wilbarger, Young and Tarrant counties, including drug charges.
http://www.texomashomepage.com/news/...ah-martin-case
Bookmarks