The Texas Council on Family Violence released its annual Honoring Texas Victims Report on October 1, 2026, documenting 160 deaths from intimate partner homicide in Texas during 2025. The report found 136 women and 24 men killed by current or former intimate partners or stalkers, with an additional 15 children, relatives, friends, and bystanders killed in connection with these incidents.
Texas Council on Family Violence (TCFV), Released the annual Honoring Texas Victims Report; Gloria Aguilera Terry, Chief Executive Officer of TCFV; Rosie Martinez, Coordinated Responses and Safety Strategies Director at TCFV
Brandon Dillard, 48, was arrested in Grapevine on charges including indecency with a child by sexual contact and assault of a family member. He was an associate pastor at IMRSN Church in Fort Worth.
$$230,000 for bond
Brandon Dillard, associate pastor at IMRSN Church in Fort Worth; IMRSN Church, employer
Federal prosecutors announced that authorities arrested 19 people following a long-term investigation into an alleged drug trafficking organization operating in Alice, Texas. All 19 are charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine.
$Nearly $100,000 for cash seized
Federal prosecutors, Announced arrests and charges; Villagran family members and associates, Alleged operators of drug dealing locations; Joseph Griffith, Assistant U.S. Attorney prosecuting the case
Rick Joseph Fuentes, a 26-year-old volunteer firefighter and Lamar Middle School science teacher, died in a single-vehicle rollover crash Sunday night while responding to a vehicle and grass fire call. The fire truck left the roadway and rolled over near Farm to Market Road 437 in Holland.
Rick Joseph Fuentes, Buckholts Volunteer Fire Department firefighter and Lamar Middle School science teacher and coach; Texas Department of Public Safety, Investigating the crash; Temple ISD, Fuentes' employer and 1 more
Two people were injured in a shooting early Sunday morning in Uvalde Estates, Uvalde County. One was airlifted to a San Antonio hospital. Authorities are searching for the suspect.
Ruben Nolasco, Uvalde County Sheriff; Emmanuel Zamora, Constable
A semitruck crashed on Gateway East near Eastlake in East El Paso County on Sunday morning, Oct. 11. The driver had to be extricated and airlifted by helicopter. The crash closed Gateway East and Exit 35 at Eastlake Boulevard.
Fire Department, airlifted driver by Fire STAR helicopter; El Paso County Sheriff's Office, took over scene and assisted with road closure; El Paso Police Department, assisted with road closure and 1 more
Texas State University police are investigating a reported burglary and indecent assault at Cypress Hall residence hall. An unknown male entered an unlocked student room around 7:30 a.m. on Sunday; the suspect was not found during the search.
Texas State University Police, investigating agency; Unknown male suspect, alleged perpetrator
Deputy constables with the El Paso County Constable's Office arrested a 34-year-old man on multiple felony warrants in East El Paso. He was booked on 45 criminal charges including possession of child pornography, sexual performance of a child, and online solicitation of a minor.
$$250,000 for bond
Mauricio Toscano, arrested man; El Paso County Constable's Office, Precinct Six, arresting agency
A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Texas indicted Derek Bryan Peveto, a 46-year-old former teacher, on October 7, 2026, for production of child pornography. According to the indictment, on June 13, 2026, Peveto is alleged to have used a minor victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct.
Derek Bryan Peveto, Former Southeast Texas teacher, indicted on federal child exploitation charge; Jay R. Combs, U.S. Attorney announcing indictment; Rachel Grove, Assistant U.S. Attorney prosecuting case and 2 more
A shooting occurred outside Leaf Hookah Lounge in Northeast San Antonio early Saturday, leaving one 33-year-old man dead and a 37-year-old man wounded with two gunshot wounds to his upper body. The Bexar County Sheriff's Office is searching for a suspect who fled on foot.
Bexar County Sheriff's Office, investigative agency; Javier Salazar, Bexar County Sheriff; Leaf Hookah Lounge, location of shooting
Victor Martinez, 64, was charged with cruelty to non-livestock animals after a German Shepherd puppy fell from his moving pickup truck on October 3 in El Paso. The puppy suffered visible injuries including blood and abrasions on its face, nose, and rear leg.
Victor Martinez, Driver charged with animal cruelty; El Paso County Sheriff's Office, Agency that filed complaint affidavit; Martinez's grandson, Passenger who reported earlier incident
An El Paso County Tax Assessor-Collector's Office deputy was arrested on 10 counts of tampering with governmental records. Investigators allege she altered more than 380 vehicle registration records in the state system to bypass inspection and emissions requirements between July 1, 2025, and July 1, 2026. She was booked into El Paso County Detention Facility on a $50,000 bond.
$$50,000 for bond
Jessica Marie Alonzo, El Paso tax office deputy at authorized contract office; El Paso County Tax Assessor-Collector's Office, Office that reported arrest and investigated altered records; El Paso County Tax Assessor-Collector's Office Enforcement Division, Made allegations of record alteration
Texas Department of Safety Trooper Raymond Torres found an injured owl in the center median of Interstate 10 near Van Horn while on patrol. Torres cared for the owl until Texas Parks and Wildlife arrived and transported it to the El Paso Zoo for medical treatment.
Raymond Torres, Texas Department of Safety trooper; Texas Department of Safety, State agency; Texas Parks and Wildlife, State agency that transported owl and 1 more
The Houston County Sheriff's Office has used virtual reality headsets for deputy and jailer training for one year. The technology places officers in realistic scenarios to practice responding to high-pressure situations without recreating them in real life.
$$190,000 per year for virtual reality training contract (annual cost)
Houston County Sheriff's Office, Law enforcement agency implementing virtual reality training; Sheriff Matt Blanton, Sheriff; Major Brian Blanton, Major and 1 more
Jamaal Howard, 46, was executed by lethal injection on Wednesday at the state prison in Huntsville. He was pronounced dead at 8:03 p.m. after receiving pentobarbital. Howard was the first person executed in the United States since Tennessee's botched execution attempt of Christa Pike on September 30.
$$114 for cash taken in robbery
Jamaal Howard, Death row inmate executed; Vickie Swartout, Convenience store clerk killed by Howard in 2000; Dr. Jeff Hood, Spiritual advisor who spoke with Howard before execution and 3 more
A 26-year-old Texas man was arrested after police said he groomed a 17-year-old Yuba City girl online, drove to California, abducted her, and led authorities on a vehicle pursuit that ended in a fiery crash off a cliff. The teenager was rescued with minor to moderate injuries.
$$100,000 for ramey Warrant issued
Cameron Childers, 26-year-old Texas resident accused of kidnapping and abduction; Yuba City Police Department, Police agency that investigated and arrested Childers; Bakersfield Police Department, Police agency that assisted in pursuit and 1 more
A Harris County detention officer, Luis Santos, 26, and his brother Rolando Santos, 22, were charged with aggravated assault in connection with a Sept. 20 shooting and crash on the West Loop involving three vehicles. The brothers turned themselves in Tuesday and were accused of firing at a man and his wife traveling with their 8-year-old daughter.
$$15,000 for bond
Luis Santos, Harris County detention officer; accused driver of black Camaro; Rolando Santos, Brother of Luis Santos; accused driver of silver GMC Sierra pickup truck; Justin Keiter, Attorney for Luis Santos and 1 more
The Brandywine Valley SPCA removed 82 dogs from Dogtown Ranch Sanctuary Rescue and Rehab in Rockdale, Texas. The founder has been charged with animal cruelty by the Milam County Sheriff's Office.
Brandywine Valley SPCA, Organization that removed dogs and negotiated surrender; Adam Lamb, Brandywine Valley SPCA CEO; Mike Clore, Milam County Sheriff and 1 more
Zack Masri, former Assistant Chief of the Dallas County Fire Marshal's Office, turned himself in to police and was arrested on theft and official oppression charges. He bonded out after posting $15,000. The arrest follows his firing four months earlier.
$$15,000 for bond posted
Zack Masri, Former Dallas County Fire Marshal Assistant Chief; Mark Lassiter, Masri's lawyer; Texas Rangers, Investigating the case and 1 more
Brantly Slocum, a 38-year-old man with Down syndrome, was reported missing from his home near Lubbock on October 7. The Lubbock County Sheriff's Office is searching for him; he was believed to be traveling west on foot and is without his glasses, which he requires to see. An update indicates he was found safe.
Brantly Slocum, Missing man with Down syndrome; Lubbock County Sheriff's Office, Searching agency