Details emerge in triple murder
Grandmother pleads for clues; citizens continue to up reward money
By: Lynn LaRowe - Texarkana Gazette
Amanda
Guinevere
Texas
Its been two months since Wanda Prewetts daughter and grandchildren were murdered in their home, yet her call for justice remains louder than ever.
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Prewetts despair began before daybreak May 11.
About 4:45 a.m., she received a call from Guinevere, according to a search warrant affidavit seeking judicial approval to look for and remove evidence from the familys home on Farm to Market Road 991. The warrant authorized the use of a police K-9 trained to alert on accelerants that might have been used to start the blaze that ravaged the home.
Investigators were told by the Prewetts that Guinevere was screaming for her mother before the connection was lost, the affidavit said.
The Prewetts, who live a short distance from their daughters home, found the house on fire when they arrived.
(The Prewetts) arrived at the home to find their daughter covered in blood and not moving. Their granddaughter was covered in blood and on fire, the affidavit said. (The Prewetts) were able to pull Guinevere Doss from the home, but she was deceased. There is a large laceration across her throat that appears suspicious in nature.
The Prewetts were unable to find Texas before the fires intensity drove them from the house, the affidavit said.
Investigators removed a number of items from the scorched residence, according to a search warrant return.
Cartridge casings were collected from a hallway and the master bedroom. The caliber and number of cartridges is not noted.
A spent cartridge casing was found in the master bedroom, where a revolver was recovered from beneath the bed. A cell phone was found on the floor of the master bedroom. A second cell phone was recovered from the floor near a doorway on the homes west end.
Four paint cans noted as K-9 alert 1, 2, 3 and 4 were collected.
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Other evidence collected included a knife blade noted as being near 11-year-olds body.
From a hallway, investigators collected a pocket knife, several hair samples, a tie wrap with suspected hair, a pair of glasses and suspected blood samples.
A burned rifle/shotgun combo was found in the computer room.
An electronic gate opener was recovered from a mailbox outside the gate.
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In Doss sport utility vehicle, investigators found a black purse containing her drivers license and other items. A Taurus .38 special revolver in a black holster was recovered from the drivers floorboard.
Investigators swabbed several areas of the house and took pieces of flooring.
A second search warrant was obtained for a truck belonging to Bradley Johnson, Texas father. According to the affidavit, Johnsons behavior at the scene the day of the murders led to the requests.
He arrived on scene driving erratically and nearly struck several volunteer firefighters, the affidavit said. Due to his driving off of the roadway and into the bar ditch, the rear passenger tire was flattened. Mr. Johnsons demeanor was uncontrollable ... He threatened himself harm and was very agitated at news media that was at the scene. Mr. Johnson ended up leaving the scene by ambulance and left his truck at the side of the road.
Multiple swabs of suspected blood stains were taken from the truck, as well as seven .38-caliber cartridges, the affidavit said. A K-9 did not alert to the presence of any evidence of accelerants in the truck.
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Parker urged anyone with information, even if it seems trivial or irrelevant, to contact Bowie County Sheriffs Office at 903-798-3149 or CrimeStoppers at 903-793-7867.
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Doss and Guineveres birthdays are next month, their grandmother noted.
We dont want people to forget. We need this solved. Somebody who shouldnt be is walking around free.
llarowe@texarkanagazette.com
Published: 07/17/2011