TX - Leah Martin, 22, Graham, 29 May 2015 *Arrests*

[steelman]

So, I think it's interesting that the sawed off shotgun was not the actual weapon used to kill poor Leah. Wonder what was in the bag of clothes, since she was found clothed? We're these red herrings for some reason?

I think just about everybody was led to believe that the bag of clothing was stuff that belonged to Leah. Now we all know it wasn't. What does that leave ? My guess would be that the clothing belonged to all the players in this saga. The abductors, the tormentors, the grave diggers and the cleanup crew.

Forensics people are able to pull all kinds of trace evidence from clothing. Hair follicles, carpet fibers, paint, glue, blood, automotive products......you name it. Since these "people" were trying to pull off the perfect crime, getting rid of any and all clothing which was worn that night was part of an attempt to avoid anything leading back to them through lab testing. I wouldn't be surprised to find out there was also some shoes and boots in that bag.

The shotgun. We all thought it was the murder weapon. Nope. That doesn't mean however that it wasn't used in the crime. When someone points a sawed-off shotgun at your head, you're gonna follow directions, aren't you ?

Where the gun comes into play, Hellams and Minkley are both convicted felons, so them having firearms is a no-no. I think getting rid of the shotgun was an attempt to make sure they didn't have any guns lying around should the cops come a'knockin, which they did. Both of these guys were so dumb though, they actually admitted to having it in their possession at one time or another, which is basically an admission of guilt.
If Hellams had told LE he didn't know anything about a shotgun, and that the guy who called it in was lying, he might still be out on the street. But no, he admitted to both having it and giving it to the 911 caller, so off to the pokey he goes. I guess Hellams was under the mistaken assumption that since he no longer had a gun around, that no charges would be levied against him.

It wouldn't have really mattered what Minkley had to say about the shotgun, he rented the backhoe and covered up the hole, so he was going to jail no matter what.

 

[BlkMtnGirl]

Since these "people" were trying to pull off the perfect crime, getting rid of any and all clothing which was worn that night was part of an attempt to avoid anything leading back to them through lab testing. I wouldn't be surprised to find out there was also some shoes and boots in that bag.

That's what I was thinking, and that makes the most sense, but could it have just been a tactic to see who knew the real truth? Make people believe you have evidence you really don't, and see what they say in their interviews about it? Also, remember, the Times Record News knows who brought in the bag and gun, and chooses not to disclose the info. http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news...pon-other-evidence-found-in-leah-martin-death

If Hellams had told LE he didn't know anything about a shotgun, and that the guy who called it in was lying, he might still be out on the street. But no, he admitted to both having it and giving it to the 911 caller, so off to the pokey he goes. I guess Hellams was under the mistaken assumption that since he no longer had a gun around, that no charges would be levied against him.

Which leads me to a theory I proposed a while back. If Hellams and Minkley know someone else who is/was involved, they might be in a lot of danger. (Somebody put a rock in the girl's mouth as a sign.) The gun was a good way to get H in custody, and you're right, Minkley has his own reasons for being in jail. Jail is safer than being at home IF you're in danger, for the most part. They have not been charged with the murder, so LE are either trying to get enough evidence, OR trying to get enough on somebody else.

P.s., All my musings of course. Love Steelman's thoughtful replies!

 

[Everyday Grace]

Good morning, all.

Let's see what today brings.

 

[Everyday Grace]

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=898214450215791&id=117147318322512

Suspects being charged with Capital Murder in the death of Leah Donnice Martin are identified as:
1) Billy Ray Minkley Jr. 42 years old of Graham;
2) Ross Earl Hellams, 42, of Graham, and
3) Elton Carroll Blair, 43, of Graham.
Blair and Hellams will also be charged with Tampering with Evidence to wit: a human corpse.

More posted by GPD on their Facebook page.

 

[Everyday Grace]

September 22, 2015: Graham Police and Texas Rangers conducted a third search of Blair’s Auto Repair and are formally charging three individuals in the murder of Leah Martin. On September 8, 2015 Investigators interviewed Billy Minkley Jr., and during that interview, implicated himself and others in the murder of Leah Martin, and also confessed to participation in a homicide that occurred in Fort Worth in 2014. That case is still being pursued by the Fort Worth Police Department.
Because of facts that came to light during the interview of Minkley a search of the premises where Leah Martin worked was conducted to search for evidence that was unknown to investigators at the time of the previous search warrant.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=898214450215791&id=117147318322512

Nice work by law enforcement.

I wonder which 2014 Fort Worth murder that was...hmmm. Maybe not related to the death of Leah Martin, but interesting to me.

 

[Everyday Grace]

Even with the arrests of these three individuals, Chief of Police Tony Widner advises the investigation is still ongoing.

http://www.texomashomepage.com/news/local-news/3-charged-with-murder-in-leah-martin-case

 

[rosie_lee]

Finally! This is such great news!

 

[Everyday Grace]

Finally! This is such great news!

Yes, indeed!

 

[steelman]

Billy Ray Minkley's girlfriend has a lot of egg on her face this morning. She's been screaming that he was framed this entire time and proclaiming his innocence, even on the family's Facebook page. This should quieten her down a bit.

So it was Leah's employer that had her killed, and he had the two mutts clean it up for him. I guess she must have known something about his business affairs that he didn't want to get out. By the way, that's also her father-in-law.


The third search warrant must have turned up evidence that she was tortured and killed right there at the auto body shop. Luminol doesn't lie.

I guess they figured out which two of them were seen on video tape as well, Blair must have been one of them.

 

[steelman]

Anybody want to take a wild guess who was making the threatening phone calls and for what purpose ??

 

[Everyday Grace]

FW Star-Telegram:

http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/fort-worth/article36100101.html

Fort Worth homicide Sgt. Joe Loughman confirmed to the Star-Telegram that the 2014 case involved the fatal shooting of Ronney Jackson, Jackson’s common-law wife, Elizabeth Bernard Sessums, and a visiting friend, David Adams.

The trio were found dead June 2, 2014 inside a house that Jackson and Sessums shared in the 200 block of Sunset Lane in west Fort Worth.

Loughman said a capital murder warrant has been obtained for Minkley’s arrest in the triple homicide. He declined to provide additional details until the warrant is formally served.

Well, well, well.

 

[Everyday Grace]

Anybody want to take a wild guess who was making the threatening phone calls and for what purpose ??

Hmmm. Could have been any one of the three, but my guess would be ECB.

I'm thinking the threat to Leah regarded keeping quiet about something.

If so, backfire.

 

[steelman]

Graham police Facebook page : https://www.facebook.com/Graham-Police-Department-117147318322512/timeline/

the comments are starting to pour in now.............




Police tape surrounds the parking lot in front of Ec's Auto Repair in Graham on Tuesday morning. (Casey Holder, The Graham Leader)

https://www.facebook.com/grahamleader/photos/pcb.900514553317207/900511639984165/?type=1&theater

 

[steelman]

I'd say Billy Ray Minkley is going to be taking an express train straight to hell, compliments of the Texas taxpayers....................

 

[Everyday Grace]

FW Star-Telegram:

http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/fort-worth/article36100101.html



Well, well, well.

The victims in the Fort Worth triple homicide were shot -- two in the head and one in the chest.

Wondering if the short-barreled shotgun matches ballistics from that case?

Interesting either way.

 

[Everyday Grace]

I'd say Billy Ray Minkley is going to be taking an express train straight to hell, compliments of the Texas taxpayers....................

Yep. Here's some information on Minkley via the Star-Telegram.

Minkley has previous convictions for felony escape out of Palo Pinto County and burglary of a building out of Wilbarger and Young counties.

In Tarrant County, he has misdemeanor convictions for attempt to possession a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and theft of property, court records show.

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/fort-worth/article36100101.html#storylink=cpy

I keep turning up a November 2013 Tarrant Co. arrest for Minkley on 3 counts of aggravated robbery, but couldn't turn up more than a mugshot record.

Hoping FWPD will be sharing more about Minkley's Tarrant County activities.

Maybe related to Leah's death, or maybe not.

I suspect very relevant to the greater Young County community.

Enough.

 

[Fairy1]

Great news! Still very interested to learn what the motive was in Leah's murder.

 

[Everyday Grace]

Links to prior Star-Telegram reporting on the 2014 FW triple homicide:

Slayings on Sunset Lane triple homicide, not murder-suicide, Fort Worth police say

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/fort-worth/article3860737.html#storylink=cpy

8 months after triple homicide, Fort Worth police still seek killer

Homicide Detective Kyle Sullivan said he believes the slayings took place the evening of May 28 and that Jackson and Sessums were the targets.

“They were known to use drugs and have a lot of people over at the house sometimes,” Sullivan said. “But they were very particular about who they would let into the house. I personally think it was someone they know. Someone that was familiar to them. Someone they let into the house.”

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/crime/article10773740.html#storylink=cpy

Not saying the murder of Leah Martin is related to drugs; not saying it isn't.

Just saying, enough!

 

[steelman]

It's interesting that Minkley appears to be the one singing like a bird, especially since he is the one looking at a triple homicide in Ft. Worth.

My guess is he plans on turning against the other two as long as they will take the death penalty off the table, I seriously doubt he is fessing up to all of this because he found Jesus. I'm sure it's self-serving in one way or another.

It never ceases to amaze me what cowards these types are. They seem to think nothing of pulling a trigger and sending everybody else into the afterlife, but they themselves seem terrified of dying. I wonder why that is......do you think maybe they have really bad dreams in the middle of the night, or maybe get visited and tormented by spirits in their sleep ?

 

[Mountaingazer]

It's interesting that Minkley appears to be the one singing like a bird, especially since he is the one looking at a triple homicide in Ft. Worth.

My guess is he plans on turning against the other two as long as they will take the death penalty off the table, I seriously doubt he is fessing up to all of this because he found Jesus. I'm sure it's self-serving in one way or another.

It never ceases to amaze me what cowards these types are. They seem to think nothing of pulling a trigger and sending everybody else into the afterlife, but they themselves seem terrified of dying. I wonder why that is......do you think maybe they have really bad dreams in the middle of the night, or maybe get visited by spirits in their sleep ?

Oh I have no doubt he got a plea deal for life in prison! He is facing four capital murder charges!