A Texas man has been sentenced to life in jail for the homicide of his cousin after a household pet helped determine him because the killer, authorities mentioned.
The physique of Mandy Rose Reynolds was discovered burning in a storage container in a area in McLennan County, Texas on April 5, 2023, in accordance with the district lawyer’s workplace. The stays have been burned past recognition, and a .380 shell casing was discovered contained in the container. Responding officers additionally discovered a white canine which barked frantically and refused to go away the scene or be captured, officers mentioned. The physique was eliminated, and the following morning, a citizen reported seeing the canine sitting in the identical spot it had been.
Officers took custody of the canine, which they later discovered was named Titan. They discovered the canine had a microchip and have been capable of determine it as having belonged to Reynolds. This led police to suspect Reynolds was the individual whose physique had been discovered. They went to her residence and located it utterly empty, with all her possessions, together with her automotive, lacking.
McLennan County District Lawyer’s Workplace
Two days later, a person was noticed driving Reynolds’ automotive close to Wichita, Kansas. Police tried to tug the motive force over, however he began a high-speed chase, reaching speeds of over 100 miles per hour earlier than crashing into one other automobile. The motive force then fled on foot, working right into a grocery retailer and hiding behind canned items. He was rapidly discovered by police and brought into custody. A .380 handgun was discovered contained in the automotive.
The motive force was recognized as Derek Daigneault, 29, a cousin of Reynolds’. Police started to research his actions between the invention of Reynolds’ physique and the automotive chase. Safety footage from an space Wal-Mart confirmed Daigneault buying a storage container that matched the one Reynolds’ physique was discovered burning in. He had additionally bought a shovel and a gasoline can in the identical go to.
Video confirmed Daigneault driving away from the shop in Reynolds’ automotive, officers mentioned. Within the footage, Titan may be seen sticking his head out the window of the automobile. He additionally had Reynolds’ cellphone, which police used to trace his location.
Derek Daigneault.
McLennan County District Lawyer’s Workplace
The gun within the automobile was decided to be Reynolds’ grandmother’s weapon and matched the shell casing discovered together with her physique, in accordance with CBS affiliate KWTX.
Daigneault was reportedly on felony probation with a warrant out for his arrest on the time of the homicide, KWTX reported. He satisfied Reynolds to drive from San Marcos, Texas to Kansas to select him up, and he or she allowed him to stick with her for a couple of month earlier than the homicide, the station reported.
Daigneault has earlier felony convictions for aggravated housebreaking, tried aggravated theft, aggravated assault, possession of methamphetamine, tried interference with regulation enforcement, legal discharge of a firearm at a residence, fleeing officers, aggravated battery and legal possession of a weapon by a felon, in accordance with KWTX.
Jurors deliberated for about 40 minutes earlier than returning with a life sentence on November 7. Daigneault will likely be eligible for parole in 30 years, KWTX reported. An lawyer for Daigneault mentioned they may enchantment the decision.
In a press release, McLennan County assistant district attorneys Ryan Calvert and Alyssa Killin, who prosecuted the homicide, referred to as Titan a “heroic and loyal dog” and mentioned he served as one of many “keys to this case.”
