Coldspring couple accused of killing Houston man
COLDSPRING, Texas—Investigators say a husband and wife killed and buried a Houston man who traveled to San Jacinto County last month to sell his sports car.
James Michael McLaughlin, 49, and Rebecca McLaughlin, 48, have been charged with murder in the death of 52-year-old Ronald James Dewars.
Dewars was reported missing on Nov. 27 in Fort Bend County by his girlfriend.
She told investigators Dewars had gone to San Jacinto County to sell his black 2007 Shelby Mustang, but never returned.
The Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Texas Rangers and the San Jacinto County District Attorney’s Office, launched an investigation into Dewars’ disappearance.
They found his missing Mustang off Highway 156, but James McLaughlin was listed as the seller. McLaughlin happened to pull up when deputies were searching the car. He led them on a short chase that ended with his arrest on an unrelated outstanding felony warrant.
Deputies became even more suspicious after questioning the couple's landlord.
"Mr. McLaughlin requested the landlord to dig a hole on his property," said San Jacinto District Attorney Bill Burnett. "The reason being that Mr. McLaughlin had a St. Bernard. Great Dane-mix dog that he wanted to bury."
The landlord used a backhoe to dig the hole just yards from the trailer where McLaughlin and his wife live.
Authorities say McLaughlin used plywood to cover the body.
"It never ceases to amaze me what human beings can do to other human beings," said Burnett.
Burnett said Rebecca McLaughlin was an acquaintance of Dewars’, but the motive remains unclear.
The body was positively identified as that of Dewars’ following an autopsy at the Jefferson County Morgue. Officials haven’t released a cause of death.
Bail was set at $500,000 apiece for the suspects.
Coldspring is about 60 miles northeast of Houston.
