HENDERSON, Texas (KTRE) – An East Texas businesswoman was arrested by undercover agents after the sheriff’s office got a tip that she was seeking to have someone killed.
Cheryl Thibodeaux, 42, of Henderson was a successful business woman in the home construction industry, but information came to Rusk County Sheriff Johnwayne Valdez that she was seeking a different kind of business.
“It became clear to us that this was going to be solicitation to commit capital murder,” Valdez said.
The sheriff says investigators got wind of what was going on when Thibodeaux allegedly went “fishing,” meaning she went looking for somebody to do the job.
“We received information that this individual was attempting to find someone to do harm to a family member. Before she could actually find someone who could do it, that’s when we jumped in there. She made an agreement to meet.”
Not knowing that she was meeting with an undercover agent, Thibodeaux was arrested Monday afternoon when investigators say she provided money as compensation for the murder solicitation.
“At that time we had enough probable cause and a warrant for her arrest,” the sheriff says.
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Thibodeaux is charged with criminal solicitation for capital murder, a felony of the 1st degree.
The question now is what her motive may have been.
“There’s nothing random about cases like this. That motive was there. Once that motive is established, then it’s easier for us to back track and find the evident that we’re actually looking for. Somebody out there knows a little bit more about this,” said Valdez.
Thibodeaux’s bond was set at $100,000, and she was expected to make bond today.
If convicted, she could face a 99-year prison sentence and a fine of up to $100,000.
Harris County police are investigating a shooting at a Houston apartment complex that left two teens dead and another injured.
The shooting happened Friday night around 10:40 p.m. on the 300 block of Airtex Drive when officers responded to a shooting call.
Upon arrival they found 3 males suffering from gunshot wounds. All three males were transported to an area hospital where two of the males succumbed to their injuries. They were 17 years old. The third victim is expected to survive.
During the preliminary investigation officers learned that multiple people were in the parking lot when numerous shots were fired.
A Listeria outbreak has now infected 23 people throughout in 10 various states. One person from Illinois has died as a result. All but one of the individuals had to be hospitalized, states the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
The agency reported that Listeria is a sickness that usually affects pregnant women, newborns, other adults, and people with weakened immune systems. It is unusual for those who aren’t in one of these groups to get the illness. To add, antibiotics are used if a person is infected.
Symptoms are different, depending on the person and where they have been affected in their body. A small percentage of cases can lead to a fever or diarrhea.
For those with severe cases, they may experience invasive listeriosis which means bacteria extends pass the gut. If a woman is pregnant, she may experience muscle aches and fatigue. Headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions are also symptoms.
Although it usually doesn’t cause major symptoms in pregnant women, Listeria can cause fetuses and newborn babies to become very sick. It can result in miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection in a newborn.
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During the recent outbreak, five pregnant women became ill and suffered a miscarriage.
For people who are 65 or older, they could develop an infection in the bloodstream or brain. They may also experience problems with their joints, bones, chest, and abdomen.
Listeria outbreaks are almost always related to food contamination products. The CDC hasn’t validated where the outbreak started. However, almost all of the people who had gotten sick reside in or had gone to Florida about a month prior to becoming ill. It’s uncertain if that is a coincidence.
35-year-old Andrew Charles Beard, from Rowlett, Texas, cyberstalked, shot, and fatally stabbed his ex-girlfriend. It occurred as the two were going through a custody battle.
Last week, Beard pleaded guilty to two violent federal crimes. He had been charged with cyberstalking using a dangerous weapon resulting in death and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
Beard will receive his punishment on October 6 and could receive two life sentences.
Authorities say that he admitted to stalking and killing his ex-girlfriend, Alyssa Burkett, 24. It happened in a parking lot in Carrollton on October 2, 2020. Beard wanted to have custody of the couple’s daughter who was a 1-year-old at the time.
Beard confessed to placing a GPS tracker inside of Burkett’s vehicle. He then trailed her to her apartment where he shot her in the head.
Burkett was able to get to a parking lot that was nearby. However, Beard found her and stabbed her 13 times.
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Burkett’s mother and colleagues informed authorities that she had been scared of Beard. She was worried that he had been following her and felt like he may kill her. Burkett’s boyfriend added that Beard seemed to be “overly obsessed” with Burkett and their daughter.
“This was a brutal, bloody crime. Ms. Burkett’s daughter is now suffering twin tragedies. Her mother is deceased, and her father is an admitted murderer. We pray for strength for this child and the rest of her family…” said U.S. Attorney Chad Meacham.
