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Girl killed, suspect chased to Navasota
An alleged murder near Elgin led to a police chase Jan. 4, culminating in a car crash and a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Sofia Vera, 19, was reportedly killed Dec. 30, 2022. An alleged suspect, Raul Anthony Caballero, 22, was then pursued by multiple agencies before converging on the vehicle.
“They approached the car, and he was not moving,” said Sheriff Maurice Cook.
According to the Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office, Vera’s body was found on FM 1704 near Elgin around 8 p.m. when they responded to a hit-and-run call. Deputies observed gunshot wounds on Vera and realized it was more than that.
Her parents reported her missing around the same time investigators began to look into the whereabouts of her reported boyfriend, Caballero.
According to authorities, Caballero fled the scene in Vera’s vehicle and was using her cellphone.
Shortly after Caballero’s apartment in Elgin was searched and an arrest warrant for murder was issued, the suspect was spotted in Bryan and began to be pursued. Officers from both cities followed as he traveled southbound through College Station.
When the suspect entered Navasota, the city’s officers were waiting with spike strips.
The chase reached speeds up to 100 mph before Caballero’s vehicle was struck by an SUV, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
After a SWAT team approached the vehicle and found the suspect with life-threatening injuries, he was airlifted to a nearby hospital.
Black icons commemorated in mural
Five of Elgin’s most inf luential black leaders were honored and forever immortalized with a massive mural dedication Jan. 14.
The piece, located at the corner of Main Street and Central Avenue, recognized Harvey Westbrook, Annie Lee Haywood, S. H. McShan, Dorothy McCarther and Monty Joe Thomas. The 50-feet-long and 20-feet-high painting leaves the faces of each leader looking out onto downtown Elgin.
Westbrook was a civil rights activist and lifelong Elgin resident. He was president of the Elgin branch of the NAACP and fought endlessly to ensure all members of the community had equal access to resources and public services.
Haywood was revered in the community for her contributions as an educator. She played an integral role in Elgin’s Head Start program, was the first black teacher to desegregate Elgin schools and retired from Elgin Independent School District after 31 dedicated years.
S. H. McShan, father of current Elgin Mayor Theresa McShan, owned beloved local business McShan’s Barbershop, now run by his grandson. He was involved in the church community, Elgin Parks Board and the Elgin Economic Development Corporation.
Thomas was a celebrated gospel recording artist and proud Elginite. He sang and played guitar in a number of groups, including The Gospel Mourners, The Thomas Family and Milton Hill & The Gospel Soul Singers. In addition, he was the owner of Thomas Appliance Service for 50 years, coached little league sports and partook in community service organizations.
McCarther is still going strong as the owner of Dorothy’s Fine Jewelry in downtown Elgin. She’s a certified gemologist and has been a pillar in the community since opening her business in 1992. She offers top-tier gemstones, high school class rings, wedding band sets and distinctive jewelry synonymous with African American and Hispanic communities. McCarther is also an active participant in the Main Stret Prog ram, Chamber of Commerce and her church.
Police break in
Officers are another step closer to their new home from which they can protect and serve. Elgin police and officials broke ground on their planned police station March 20. The new 11,000-square-foot facility is meant to enhance the growing police service in the city.
The two-story building will be located on Depot Street and includes spaces for processing, investigations, training and staff amenities. This marks the first new construction set for a police station and the first new city facility in the downtown historic district.
FGMA Architects and Bard Williams Construction lead the project teams.
Funding for the new base of operations comes from Certificates of Obligation 2021A and American Rescue Plan Act funds.
Heading into 2024, the police station has already exceeded the height of the original base and construction continues to run smoothly.
Arrest made after deadly shooting
Two people died in a shooting on Elgin streets March 27, leading to an arrest later in the week.
Terrence Wayne Lewis, 35, was caught in Austin March 31 in connection with the deaths of Crystal Fitzgerald, 43, and Reggie Smith, 45. He was booked in the Bastrop County Jail on two accounts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a second-degree felony.
In the late evening hours of March 27, officers were dispatched for shots fired in the 800 block of South Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, north of the intersection of U.S. Highway 290 and State Highway 95. Police found the two victims with what appeared to be gunshot wounds.
Residents were ordered to shelter in place by officers, who also shut down the street as the investigation began.
First responders attempted life-saving measures on both victims, but due to the extent of the injuries, they were pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Elgin Police Department.
Suspects were unknown at first, until EPD put out a description to the public. Air support and K9 units aided in the search.
“The Elgin Police Department requested assistance from the [U.S. Marshal’s] Lone Star Fugitive Task Force to locate and apprehend Lewis, who was known to be in the Austin area,” said EPD’s criminal investigations unit.
Lewis was taken into custody by the task force and brought back to Elgin.
New name for northern heroes
BASTROP — Some of the stations responsible for saving local lives and homes went through a period of reorganization in April.
North Bastrop County’s emergency services district has cut ties with Elgin and McDade volunteer fire departments and consolidated into North Bastrop County Fire Rescue.
“This will help the organization streamline services and reduce duplication of costs associated with having three different organizations under one umbrella,” said NBCFR. “North Bastrop County Fire Rescue will still have volunteers from Elgin and McDade helping with responses in addition to the paid staff.”
The district covers 143 square miles and includes north Bastrop County and Elgin’s extra-territorial jurisdiction in Travis County. It is one of only a few districts in the state that covers two counties.
Bastrop pins first female police chief
BASTROP — Bastrop’s new police chief represents a milestone for the city.
Vicky Steffanic was pinned as Bastrop Police Department’s chief of police April 11. She was serving the role in an interim status prior to the ceremony and is now the city’s first official female police chief.
“I’m very honored to be serving the city of Bastrop,” said Steffanic after her husband pinned the chief badge on her chest.
City Manager Sylvia Carrillo recommended Steffanic to fill the position left by former chief Clint Nagy. She had previously been assistant chief.
“She stepped up during a period of time that was very crucial for the department,” said Carrillo. “She has time and time again shown me her exemplary leadership skills and commitment to the community.”
Steffanic has been with Bastrop police for 15 years in multiple capacities. She began her career as an officer, spent three years as a school resource officer, moved up to corporal, transitioned to a criminal investigations sergeant and was appointed assistant chief of police in 2020.
Before donning the blue uniform, she wore a black one, serving in the Marine Corps for eight years. Steffanic also has a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration.
“I hope my girls are proud of me,” added the new chief.
2 shot outside H-E-B, suspect caught
Nationwide attention centered on Elgin after two cheerleaders on their way home were hit by gunfire, April 18.
Payton Washington, 18, of Round Rock, was airlifted to a hospital for recovery after being shot in H-E-B’s parking lot, off of U.S. Highway 290.
Pedro Tello Rodriguez Jr., 25, was arrested and charged with deadly conduct, a third-degree felony, the same morning of the shooting.
Additional or enhanced charges may be filed, according to the Elgin Police Department.
Officers were first dispatched around 12:15 a.m. for shots fired at the parking lot, involving a vehicle. Shortly afterward, a call came in for a shooting victim in the 800 block of State Highway 95.
“It was determined these two incidents were related,” said EPD officers. “Information suggests that an altercation occurred in the parking lot of H-E-B, and multiple shots were fired into the vehicle.”
Two vehicle occupants in a 2013 Kia sustained gunshot wounds. Washington was in critical condition when transported. Another cheerleader was treated and released at the scene.
The arrest affidavit indicates a witness saw a Hispanic male shoot at the Kia multiple times and then fled the area in his own vehicle. A plate search for the suspected vehicle returned with Rodriguez’s name, who was known through “previous law enforcement encounters,” according to EPD.
Police went to an address listed for Rodriguez and witnessed him enter the property, still wearing the clothing observed by detectives in the security footage used.
Rodriguez is in the Bastrop County Jail on a $500,000 bond.
“It was unfortunate, these girls were just trying to get home,” said Lynn Shearer, Woodland’s Elite Cheer Company owner.
After the cheerleaders parked, one of them accidentally tried to get into the wrong vehicle, which spiraled into the tragic event, according to Shearer.
News rack becomes lending library
Eight-year-old Augie Bidwell graced his neighbors with a new Little Free Library, May 31, crafted from a retired Taylor Press newspaper rack.
The Taylor Press is a sister paper of the Elgin Courier, both owned by Granite Media Partners.
For the past few years, Bidwell has had a fascination with Little Free Library bookcases, an organization that promotes youth reading development and communal book exchanges through small public neighborhood shelves.
The bookcases range in size, color and decoration, but all operate through a nonprofit “take a book, leave a book” understanding.
With the help of his parents, Elisha and Steve, Bidwell has decided to combine his love of these libraries with his other fascination, newspaper vending machines.
“Augie has been on a mission to locate old newspaper boxes all over town since he first noticed them at gas stations around Elgin. He became curious about what they were for and where they’ve gone,” Mrs. Bidwell informs.
While there are newspaper racks still in circulation that Elgin Courier and Granite Media Partners utilize, the presence of these pieces of Americana are diminishing across the country. As this is the case, when the Bidwell family reached out to inquire about any extras the Courier may have laying around, it wasn’t too much trouble to locate a retired one and gift it to be repurposed.
“We are so moved by the Elgin Courier, who was so quick and so kind to help make Augie’s dream to combine his love for old newspaper vending machines and Little Free Libraries into something really special. It is such a cool way to showcase a part of history while building community,” said Bidwell.
The Bidwell family plans to register their box in the official Little Free Library database, making this the eighth bookcase in Bastrop County and the Fourth in Elgin alone.
Sheriff Deputies maneuver top-speed inter-county chase
Bastrop County Sheriff’s Department deputies found themselves in a high-speed chase June 19, ending with wreckage and drawn firearms.
Patrol Deputies were heading westbound on State Highway 71 when they witnessed a truck with a small trailer in tow run a stoplight, Sheriff Maurice Cook said. After initially pausing for the violation, the truck took off and led officers on a chase stretching into Travis County.
While attempting to maneuver around pedestrian traffic at top speed, the truck lost control and made contact with some of the highway’s construction equipment. Losing the trailer, the vehicle tumbled multiple times into a nearby ditch amidst a cloud of dirt, just a few yards away from the street.
“They came within a foot of hitting us and everyone in front of us. They came past so fast and so close the whole vehicle shook, like there was an eighteen-wheeler that just blew past us,” said Zack Johnson and Sheila Dolbow, witnesses to the chase’s conclusion. “The truck was so mangled, the driver had to get out of the passenger window, as well.”
Luckily, there was no significant damage to any civilians or other vehicles. Once the truck was stopped and the dust settled, deputies were on site with guns drawn ready to handle the situation. The driver was immediately taken into custody without any further altercations, and the passenger was driven to the hospital for minor injuries.
“We’re thankful for law enforcement being there and doing their job, those guys were posing a risk to everyone out there on the road, and they got it taken care of,” added Dolbow.
Dodge pulls into Main Street
The filming of a new Dodge car commercial June 21 closed off the greater downtown Main Street area, but still saw roads and sidewalks packed.
Wolfgang Studios occupied Main Street and its intersections from Veterans’ Memorial Park to Lexington Road with a fleet of high-speed show cars and film equipment. Aided by Elgin Police, they were able to film the advertisement from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. without crippling the flow of traffic or forcing downtown businesses to close shop. In fact, it brought a substantial boost of foot traffic to the stores.
“I actually think we’re going to start opening up earlier, we had so many new customers,” said Ashley Dahlke of the new Lo-Fi Coffee House and Studio, “It was a good test for us.”
The café was closed off just for the shoot’s talent in the afternoon, whom Dahlke said demonstrated fine etiquette.
The rest of the businesses and townsfolk in attendance were treated to an impromptu showcase. Over 20 performance vehicles shared the spotlight, including challengers and chargers with custom paint jobs, bodies and engine work. Whi le the camera-mounted car reset for shots, those present were allowed to step into the road and check out what these cars were packing under the hood, talk to their handlers and get a closer look at some of the finer cosmetic details. A number of the vehicles sported detailed mural paint jobs and clean interior redesigns.
The crew didn’t close off the sidewalks for almost the entirety of the shoot, allowing attendees to sit, watch and listen to the muscle on display.
The commercial can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_qihPF0BvM.
There’s no place like Western Days
Elgin’s 54th annual celebration of community and camaraderie continued to grow this year, with residents and visitors gathering at Memorial Park this June for three full days of events, vendors and familiar faces.
This year’s rendition of Elgin’s homecoming fair and festival, organized by the Chamber of Commerce, brought a bit more to the greenery than years prior. With a Wizard of Oz flair, Western Days included a yellow brick road fashion show, great Oz golf tournament and Toto’s dance, concluding with the grand parade and vendor market.
“It’s grown a lot, there’s more people, and vendors especially, every year,” said local realtor Valerie Navejas, “the chamber has done a lot to keep up with the times but maintain tradition.” Elgin born and raised, Navejas attended all three days, “It all leads to Saturday, where it’s a matter of how late can you stay out in this sun.”
Ex-mayor of Elgin pleads guilty Former Elgin Mayor Christopher Cannon pleaded guilty to felony theft of property charges June 20, according to prosecutors.
Cannon served two terms as mayor of Elgin from 2016 to 2020.
According to the Travis County District Attorney’s office, 38-year-old Cannon, a licensed insurance agent, is accused of pocketing $30,000 to $150,000 of insurance payments from Baker’s Backhoe Services in Bastrop County.
The incidents took place between Jan. 17, 2015, and Aug. 21, 2019, during his time as mayor, investigators said. Cannon accepted insurance payments without officially submitting them for policies, according to prosecutors.
Cannon was indicted by a Travis County grand jury April 26, 2021, and was arrested May 4, 2022, by officers with the Elgin Police Department.
The Texas Department of Insurance has a special prosecutor assigned to work in the Travis County District Attorney’s Office focused on insurance-related crimes. “Our office is committed to holding accountable powerful actors who violate our laws,” Travis County District Attorney José Garza said in a press release. “We appreciate our partnership with the Texas Department of Insurance in ensuring that the victims, in this case, receive the justice they rightfully deserve.”
“Chris Cannon deeply regrets his actions that led to the charges filed in this case. He hopes his guilty plea provides some closure to those involved. He plans to pay everything back and rebuild the trust he once had with his family, friends and the city of Elgin,” said Cannon’s attorney in a statement to KXAN.
Cannon faces charges of insurance fraud, a third-degree felony. If convicted, he could be fined up to $10,000 and face up to 10 years in prison.
Where the watermelons go
MCDADE — The 75th incarnation of McDade’s historic watermelon festival filled the streets with a full day of celebration and neighborly communion.
McDade’s annual flagship festival drew in thousands of Texans, providing them with the town’s special brand of entertainment, craftsmanship and all the watermelon they could need.
“I’m not even typically a watermelon kind of girl, but every year I drive out here for this,” said visitor Steph Tejira, “It’s just a good time.”
Watermelon was the star here. Farmers proudly displayed their seeded behemoths center-stage, with the largest of the bunch reaching 170.2 pounds. Other more manageable melons were sliced and handed out to those who waited in line, and set aside for later challenges. Families gathered to watch volunteers compete in eating and seed spitting competitions, leaving sticky medals in the hands of the victors.
Food pantry struggles to meet rising food insecurity
The Bastrop County Emergency Food Pantry and Support Center resorted to purchasing thousands of dollars of staple foods in order to keep their shelves stocked, as the Central Texas Food Bank is spread too thin.
The county’s first defense for families going through a period of transition has been hit with a 30% increase in requests for food, accompanied by a near 50% reduction in food supply, said representatives. This is the most people the food pantry has ever served in a six-month period, a statistic not unique to Bastrop County.
“In all of the 22 plus years that I have worked for this organization I have never seen the need this high. The low food supply and the high need combined to create a perfect storm. We are being forced to have to spend more on food just so that we can continue to serve those in need,” said Tresha Silva, executive director of the Bastrop County Emergency Food Pantry.
This is not a sustainable option for any center.
Regardless, Bastrop’s food panty continues to serve the county and operate while maintaining its core values. Families can still receive 30 days of food, as well as weekly access to fresh foods.
“I will not sacrifice nutrition,” said Silva, unwavering in her approach to aid her community.
Donations from the community have seen a 10% increase, but this is still not enough. Silva expects that she will unfortunately need to continue purchasing from vendors wholesale. The thousands already spent will not last more than one week.
Body identified from 44-year-old case
Through advancements in genealogy tech and perseverance decades later, the Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office was able to identify and provide closure for the family of Kathy Ann Smith, whose body was found in 1979 Elgin.
After exhuming the gravesite in 2019 for another DNA sample without success, Sergeant James Miller tried again in 2022. With the help of the District Attorney’s office, North Texas University and forensic laboratory Othram, a key discovery led to Smith’s eventual identification earlier this month.
“The problem was she was adopted, that really played with us,” said Sheriff Maurice Cook, who took pride in his team’s commitment. “We’re not only due diligent in identifying suspects. This is a case where Sergeant Miller worked on it to give closure to the family, that was our primary purpose.”
“Genealogy will continue to be used and be a valuable asset. The advances in technology are helping us solve these older crimes,” said Miller.
It is now known that Smith was 22 at the time of her death, the cause of which is still ruled as homicide. She was struck by a car on the north side of Highway 290, six miles outside of Elgin. Prolific serial killer of the time Henry Lee Lucas was initially ruled a suspect. The two were both known to be visiting the same Salvation Army and the circumstance of death agrees with his patterns, according to Sheriff Cook. Lucas is known for confessing to over 200 murders, many of which he later redacted.
“He confessed to a lot of things. I don’t know that we can ever definitively say who did this, but what we can say is who she is, and that’s huge,” said District Attorney Bryan Goertz.
New blackland of Bastrop
BASTROP — Extreme heat and arid conditions helped spread wildfires across Bastrop County in August, including a 117-acre roadside blaze that took responders five days to fully contain.
The Powder Keg Pine Fire sparked from an unknown source, six miles east of Bastrop on Highway 71 and Harmon Road. Response from local firefighters was quick but the fire spread to 40 acres rapidly and residents were asked to evacuate while the highway shut down.
“It just takes one little spark,” said Elgin Fire Chief Chris Botello. “With conditions being so dry, when something starts, it’s going to start and spread quick.”
This past July was one of the hottest on record, but up through May there was more rainfall than previous years, Botello explains. This resulted in grass that has grown more and dried out more. “More fuel for the fire,” he said.
Responders worked through the night and were able to reach a containment level of 65% by the morning, preventing any damage to homes in the area. Operations continued for the following three days and by Sunday it was completely contained.
Those who witnessed the fire expressed concern, reminded of the Bastrop County Complex Fire in 2011. The most destructive wildfire in state history tore through the county, lighting up over 1,600 homes and killing two people. High winds were a factor then and remain a point of focus now. Sparks blow between flammable cedar and pine trees that decorate the area’s roadways and parks.
The organization of inter-department coverage deserves recognition, according to firefighters. Stations expanded their areas of operation to accommodate towns that sent their teams to the wildfires.
Moonlit hog hunt fall leaves three, dog dead Three visitors from Florida died during a nighttime feral hog hunt on Aug. 9, after plunging into a cistern that may have been a century old.
The trio perished after attempting to save a dog that had fallen into the open rainwater receptacle on farmland north of the city, according to Sheriff Maurice Cook.
Rescuers responded to the initial distress call at 1:02 a.m. in the darkened cornfield, but the bodies weren’t recovered for another 18 hours. Delvys Garcia, 37, Denise Martinez, 26, and Noel Vigil-Benitez, 45, were retrieved from the 4-foot-wide cistern at 7:30 p.m.
The container held stagnant water 8 feet below ground level along with high levels of hydrogen sulfide, an extremely toxic gas, which complicated the excavation process, investigators said. The gas is most likely a result from rotting animal carcasses, said Cook, and nobody could survive breathing it for more than a few minutes.
“If the hydrogen sulfide was not in there, this would probably have a different outcome,” Cook added.
The three Floridians were visiting a local friend, who wishes to remain anonymous, for a hog-hunting expedition when one of their dogs jumped out of their truck and fell into the water-supply tank.
One hunter followed its tracking collar and jumped in to rescue the dog, described as a large bloodhound, and was overtaken by the toxic gases. The two others disrobed and attempted to save their companion, investigators said.
It is believed they all lost their ability to float in the poisonous, stagnant water and sank to the bottom.
The recovery effort was hindered by the gas, but with the support of Elgin’s fire and utility departments, first responders eventually were able to retrieve the bodies.
Heavy equipment was brought in, but attempts to dig beside the cavity proved futile, as the walls were unstable and risked making the scene worse, law officers said. A drone was also piloted to examine the interior linings.
David Newman of the Sheriff’s Office eventually volunteered to be lowered in after the gas and water were removed, securing the victims’ bodies with ropes so they could be lifted up.
“I was there when they were brought out, and that’s a surreal feeling, even after 55 years of law enforcement,” Cook said.
