READERS CHOICE: Top 10 Crime Stories of 2019 (Warning! NSFW Language)

 

SAN ANGELO, TX – 2019 had a lot of good things happen and a lot of bad things as well in San Angelo and West Texas. Here is the list for the top crime stories of 2019 chosen based on our readers' views! 

10. David Jasso and the Meth Filled Food Truck – The longtime owner of Daddy's Food Truck was arrested back in June and was charged with three counts; one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine; one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; and one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams of methamphetamine. A few months later and Jasso pleaded guilty to the charges. This is when we learned that Jasso had three bundles of methamphetamine. The first bundle contained 1,697.8 grams of pure meth, the second contained 1,296.6 grams of pure meth, and the third contained 894.7 grams of 96% pure methamphetamine. He was sentenced earlier this month. According to court documents, Jasso was sentenced to 195 months in federal prison.

9. Who's Baby is it? – The case for the murder of Kristian Rose is filled with everything you love out of a good murder case. From Rose being shot from the back in his own home to everyone pointing towards a woman who would soon become pregnant before incarceration. On April 4 the San Angelo Police Department found Rose conscious but non-responsive. He later died due to apparent gunshot wounds to the back. The four suspects: 

Joshua Derek Jaquez is charged with murder and was arrested Wednesday, May 1. He sits in the Tom Green County Jail on a $1 million bond. Brian Ray Garcia, III, was arrested April 18 during a burglary at an apartment near Angelo State University. He was charged with Burglary with intent to commit another felony, possession of between 4 and 200 grams of meth with intent to sell, theft of property with a value of between $2,500 and $7500. He had three previous aggravated robbery charges. He sits in the Tom Green County Jail on $1.257.5 million in bonds. Jacob Martinez was arrested April 18 with Garcia. He was charged with theft of a firearm, burglary of a habitation with intent to commit another felony, and for possessing a prohibited weapon, all related to the burglary of the apartment near ASU. He was later charged with the murder of Kristian Rose. He sits in the Tom Green County Jail on $1,067,500 in bonds. Alexis Taylor was arrested and charged with murder. She has had two separate bond reduction hearings both have been denied. She has also been in contact with the man accused of murder in the fiery double homicide below. San Angelo Live! will continue to cover this story as trials gets closer. 

8. The Number One Rule About Fightclub – The local party promoter, Anthony Camp, decided this year to open an unsanctioned fightclub in the heart of Angelo State University. The fights went on for weeks bringing in "Fights, Debauchery, and Gunfire" according to surrounding business owners. The place went viral with young adults going in the ring to "Let Off Steam." Camp explained more in an interview with San Angelo Live stating it was a wholesome family event. Eventually the fights left the smaller venue and attempted to set up shop at Karonazz. This gave the police an opportunity to shut it down and they did. "It’s the same as any other fight in a bar,” Sgt. Cannady with the SAPD said. “They are committing a Class C offense. In this case the promoter was complicit in the offense. Anthony Camp was arrested. One fighter apparently figured out what was going on very quickly and vanished. Another received a citation. He didn't realize what he was doing was wrong. [But] there were no medics, no license, no safety equipment." 

7. The Alleged Murderers Who Weren't From San Angelo – The Murder at the Red Roof Inn back in July highlighted the reason for reporting out town news stories. The first day of the investigation very little was know but one thing was certain on July 7 at 12:30 p.m. a black Toyota Scion pulled up to the Red Roof Inn. Two Hispanic men got out of the vehicle, three gun shots were heard, and then the Scion left by 12:45 p.m. Five minutes later the San Angelo Police Officers arrived to the motel after multiple reports of the gunshots. According to an affidavit signed by Justice of the Peace Fred Buck, the first officer on scene walked up the the second floor and saw a body lying in a pool of blood with an apparent gunshot wound in the face. Days later the Abilene Police Department arrested Jessie Wayne Robinson, Jr for the murder. Later investigation pointed out two more suspects in the case.  Jennifer Badillo the alleged get-away driver and the other alleged gunman Daniel Diaz. They have all been indicted on the Murder Charges. 

6. Friends Turn Foe in Forced Entry Shooting – The month of June ended with death after a forced home invasion caused an apartment renter to shoot and kill the intruder. The SAPD responded to the Sedona Ranch Apartments after multiple reports of shots fired. When they arrived they found the body of 20-year-old Jadyn Phillips of San Angelo. He was first seen by police, lying dead, inside the doorway of an upstairs apartment.  Police revealed that Phillips and an accomplice, another man, had forced entry into the apartment. There to meet them was a 20-year-old male resident of that apartment. The resident fired several shots at the intruders in self defense. That is when Phillips was struck and killed by bullets. The other suspect, so far unnamed by police, fled the scene before police arrived. The 20-year-old resident was not injured. However, police said the resident was an acquaintance of Phillips and police believe robbery was the motive for the break-in.

5. Holy S*** She She Stole a Cop Car Another wild video sent in from an SA Live Viewer showed a woman stealing a "cop car." Well actually it was a vehicle from Crocket County Sheriff's Office. Unfortunately the 19-year-old woman who stole the car died that day. It is still unreported how she died but the Texas Rangers have taken over the investigation. Here is the video of the woman stealing the vehicle: 

4. I Swear You Got the Wrong Guy – One of the first big stories of 2019 came out of Junction, TX but that isn't where it started. On February 20, the Texas Department of Public Safety sent out a notice saying the were investigating a capital murder case of a 7-eleven clerk who was murdered in the safest city of the world, El Paso. The killer also stole the man's truck and was heading down I-10. Troopers chased the man halfway across the state to Kimble County. This is where a gunfight began at 10:40 a.m. Wednesday morning, Feb. 20, after a DPS trooper initiated a traffic stop involving a grey Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck on I-10 in Kimble County. As the trooper approached the vehicle, the driver began firing gun shots at the trooper.As the trooper returned fire, the suspect vehicle fled and the trooper pursued.Kimble County Deputies assisted in the chase after the suspect also fired rounds in their direction.The pursuit ended a short time later when the driver of the vehicle was found deceased from a possible self-inflicted gunshot wound. During the chase   the Kimble County Sheriff allegedly shot at a vehicle similar in appearance to the suspect's vehicle. The driver was taken to an area hospital for medical treatment. DPS said the shooting victim is in stable condition.

3. The Fiery Double HomicideThe most notable murder on this years top 10 list was the murder of Jared Lohse and Jack “Chubby” Harris. This happened in the early morning of of March 20. Although most things about this story is still unclear, the main takeaway is that the murder involved alcohol, money, and methamphetamine. That morning at around 3 a.m. a San Angelo police patrol officer was dispatched to a structure fire at 4859 N. Chadbourne St. Upon arrival, the officer was informed by the fire department there were two bodies inside the burning building. The bodies were Lohse and Harris. The men accused of being involved with the murder were Dwayne Chadwick and Shannon McGhee. According to the affidavit, Chadwick later that morning visited a residence on Guadalupe St. and talked to McGhee. According to multiple witnesses police interviewed, Chadwick told McGhee he shot and killed Jared and Chubby and needed McGhee to go to the house and burn it down.The affidavit states that McGhee left the home on Guadalupe with Ruben Lira in his vehicle. Lira told police they drove around the house several times before heading to a Stripes south of there on Chadbourne. While Lira was in the Stripes purchasing two drinks and a candy bar, Lira said McGhee stayed outside. The video surveillance police reviewed do not show McGhee, the affidavit states. Currently Chadwick is the only one charged with their murder. 

2. Mass Shooters Hitting to Close to Home – On the last day of August a nightmare became real when an armed gunmen paraded around Odessa shooting more than 20 victims. These included law enforcement, a postal worker, and multiple civilians. The story that reached the top number of reads was not the actual shooting story, but instead the story that the Odessa Police Chief would not publicily name the shooter. This showed the trend towards not making idols of these madmen that are shooting the innocent. This was one of the deadliest mass shootings in 2019. 

1. The Country's Most Famous Child Predator – As the year was coming to a close the list seemed to already be set. That was until yesterday when we published the wanted poster for a Midland man who is wanted for a number of charges including child sex crimes. This man is still wanted and if you know where he is contact the FBI immediately. The link is in the story here: FBI: Child Predator Could Be in West Texas and Has Oilfield Background 

This years list was a tight competition. The number 10 story had 26,110 reads and the number 1 story had 100,020 reads. 

 

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