Post by Scumhunter on Dec 26, 2019 2:34:19 GMT -5
(Above photo credit: Houston Chronicle via Harris County Sheriff's Office)
From the Houston Chronicle:
Harris County investigators are searching for a 52-year-old man charged with murder after he allegedly showed up at his ex-girlfriend's birthday party in northwest Harris County on Christmas Eve and shot her to death.
The slaying occurred around 8:40 p.m. in the 16500 block of Obsidian drive in the Stonegate subdivision, where investigators say Albert Benjamin Simon arrived uninvited at a small house party with about 15 guests. After forcing his way inside, Simon allegedly starting threatening his ex-girlfriend, Carolee Dawn Taylor, then grabbed her from the home at gunpoint.
He then allegedly shot her multiple times on the porch, where she was pronounced dead. Afterward, authorities say he fled in a dark-colored 2019 black Jeep Grand Cherokee with a license plate LVN0345.
Authorities quickly issued a warrant, and during a late-night press briefing at the scene Sheriff Ed Gonzalez called the slaying a "tragedy."
"Another domestic violence death," he said. "It just took her life."
On Christmas morning, Gonzalez announced the filing of a murder charge against the still-wanted suspect.
"I went to this scene last night and couldn’t help but think that her final moments were spent happy celebrating her birthday with friends," the sheriff tweeted. "She wore holiday festive attire. Simon brutally gunned her down. We must find him ASAP. Domestic violence is a serious epidemic."
Although a weapon was recovered from the scene, authorities said Simon is believed to be armed. The Houston man has a brief criminal record in Harris County, including a misdemeanor stalking case from the mid-1990s - for which he successfully completed probation - and a 2018 drunken driving case that was dismissed last month after he completed a pretrial intervention program. State records do not show any arrests elsewhere or any history of violence.
The Harris County Sheriff's Office Homicide Unit is investigating Taylor's death. If anyone knows the location of Simon or the Grand Cherokee, they should not approach him or the vehicle, but should immediately call 911. If anyone has any additional information regarding the case, they are asked to contact the Homicide Unit at 713.274.9100 or call Crime Stoppers at 713.222.TIPS(8477)
m.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Sheriff-Ex-boyfriend-walks-into-woman-s-birthday-14931011.php#photo-18802105
Thoughts? This is a relatively high-profile manhunt, so based on that and local articles it would seem Simon is still at large as of this posting date (12/26/2019). A search of Harris County's online criminal court records does not show the murder charges as of yet, but does show charges in the past for an Albert Simon born in 1967 including Driving While Intoxicated and Stalking. Since that Albert Simon is 52, I'm assuming it has to be the same guy.
This is a very scary case involving a guy who allegedly couldn't take no for an answer, and in some ways, although not as many casualties, reminds me of the Paul Merhige manhunt from America's Most Wanted. It does not make up for Carolee Taylor's tragic and senseless murder in any way but considering the circumstances and how brazen and public Simon was, I am relieved he didn't commit an alleged mass shooting at the party as well. Regardless, I fear this is a guy who will not go down quietly, which is why I am hoping this manhunt ends as quickly and safely as possible.
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