On Friday, the capital murder trial of Brendan Jenkins, who was indicted for a triple homicide in the July 2020 shooting deaths of Earl and Patti Stephens and his exgirlfriend Ashlyn Smith, ended with a quick verdict from a Comanche County jury.
Jenkins was found guilty of the murders and was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole. The shootings occurred about 7 miles north of DeLeon on the St. Joe Road.
While it was initially predicted the trial would last at least two weeks, it ended in half the time, with closing arguments coming on Friday afternoon at 2 p.m.
About 3 p.m., the jury went into deliberations. Reportedly, the trial hinged on whether Jenkins could effectively claim an insanity defense.
In took about 20 minutes for the jury to reject that defense, and find Jenkins guilty.
The Comanche Chief The Comanche Education Foundation will be hosting its first all class Comanche ISD reunion Sept. 10.
The event will take place on the town square beginning at 6 p.m., with large tents set up by decades to make it easier for classmates to find each other.
There will be entertainment, food and drink vendors, and a live auction at 8 p.m., with CHS grad Doug Johnston acting as auctioneer.
The foundation would like to stress that everyone with an interest in Comanche schools is invited, not just CHS grads.
The Hico News Review The search for a permanent Police Chief is continuing. Hico city administrator Andy Wolfe told The Hico News Review late last week, “We have named Lt. Kennith Lovell our Interim Chief of Police while we continue our search for a long term Chief.
“Lt. Lovell will officially begin serving as Chief on Thursday Sept. 1. We will continue our search and I am anticipating conducting interviews with other potential candidates in late September,” Wolfe said.
Hamilton Herald-News Hamilton High School senior Kendal Stroud was crowned the 2022 Hamilton County Dove Festival Queen at Saturday evening’s pageant at Hamilton Junior High School.
The Royal Court included Queen Kendal, Princess Ellie Kalbas, Duchess Ayden Phillips, Junior Miss Kinsley Barclay, Little Miss Kaylie Taschek, Sweetheart Tesla Townsend, Tiny Miss Lillie Kalbas and Baby Miss O’Klee Armstrong.
People’s Choice award went to Tesla Townsend. The Shiny Girl Award presented in memory of Doris Glover was presented to Alexa Vance.
First runners up included Kayla Tawater, Alexis Patterson, Chloe Dolloff, Isabelle Star, Khloe King, Alyssa Thorp, Penny Logan and Skylar Cobb.
Second runners up included Mia Rico, Marley Boatwright, Finlee Porter, Madison Henkes and Lilly Burgan.