Roderick Tad Howard, 34, of Sherman, TX, was sentenced to 50 years in prison for murder. The sentence stems from a plea agreement with the Grayson County Criminal District Attorney’s (D.A.) Office acting as Special Prosecutor for the Fannin County Criminal D.A.
Judge Laurine Blake of the 336th District Court in Fannin County accepted the plea agreement and pronounced the sentence. Due to the aggravated nature of the conviction, the defendant must serve at least half his sentence before being considered for parole.
On December 19, 2020, Sherman Police were notified by family members that Blake McCoy was missing. The next day, McCoy’s vehicle was recovered in Dallas and witness interviews by Dallas Police lead to information that the defendant drove the victim’s vehicle there.
Sherman Detectives, suspecting foul play, intensified their search for the victim and their investigation led them to a motel on Texoma Parkway. With assistance from the Texas Rangers, law enforcement began processing the motel room as a crime scene.
Sherman Detectives located several persons believed to be witnesses who advised that Roderick Howard had murdered the victim in the motel room. This information led to the discovery of the victim’s body in Fannin County. With the help of a concerned citizen, the defendant was located and arrested on felony warrants a few days later by Sherman Patrol Officers.
The investigation revealed that the defendant had also made incriminating statements about the murder to several people and on a social media post. During trial preparation, information discovered led the Grayson County Criminal District Attorney’s Office to believe that Fannin County would be a suitable venue for the murder case and the defendant was indicted for this murder by a Fannin County Grand Jury.
Source: Freepik.com