Couple arrested in S.C. in murder of Texas man
FORT WORTH - A couple suspected of murdering a Fort Worth man has been arrested in South Carolina, reports CBS DFW.
Brandon Daniels, 30, and Laniesha Evans, 25, were found at an apartment complex in Florence, S.C., less than a month after the murder of Marion Brown, according to the station. Evans was arrested without incident in the building, while Daniels was taken into custody in the woods behind the complex after trying to flee.
The Dallas Star-Telegram reports Brown, 53, was last seen alive at his job in the early afternoon on May 22. Police began an investigation on May 30, when a burning piece of carpet with partial human remains inside was found in Smith County, 130 miles southeast of Fort Worth. Evidence at the scene led detectives to believe Brown may have been the victim.
Later that day, a caller reported to authorities seeing a white, older model SUV near the scene of the burning carpet. The car, which belonged to the victim, was later found burning in the woods in Smith County, according to the Star-Telegram.
On May 31, the case moved out-of-state when a body was pulled from Cross Lake in Shreveport, La. Shreveport police Cpl. Marcus Hines told the paper, "The remains were that of an adult white male who sustained significant trauma to the head." Authorities were trying to figure out where the slaying took place, as Brown's home did not appear to be ransacked in any way.
CBS DFW reports arrest warrants for the two suspects were issued soon after the body was recovered. It is unclear what led detectives to the suspects.
Authorities said that, after trying to clean up the murder scene, Daniels and Evans left Texas and made for South Carolina, where Daniels is believed to have family. Law enforcement officers told the station the couple was planning on using an online escort service to rob people when they were caught.
The station reports Fort Worth homicide detectives are headed to South Carolina to interview the suspects, who are being held on capital murder warrants with bond set at $1 million each. Daniels and Evans both also have aggravated robbery warrants.