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Trinity County News 2

Two face murder charges

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By Tony Farkas
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Adeline Esmerelda Aparicio-Rodriguez (left) and Jacob Patrick Chrones have been charged with murder.Adeline Esmerelda Aparicio-Rodriguez (left) and Jacob Patrick Chrones have been charged with murder.GROVETON — Two Trinity County residents missing since Sept. 8 have been found dead, and two people were charged with murder in connection with the case.

Jacob Patrick Chrones, 34, and Adeline Esmerelda Aparicio-Rodriguez, 35, both are being held on first-degree felony charges of murder and third-degree felony charges of tampering with evidence in connection with the case. Bond has been set at $1.5 million apiece for the murder charges, and $50,000 apiece on the tampering charges.

In a statement, Trinity County Sheriff Woody Wallace said that his office has been investigating the disappearance of Clayton James Waters, 56, and Karen Sue Waters, 60, since Sept. 16.

Wallace said that on Sept. 16, his office received a report that Clayton Waters had failed to report to work for several days; during a search for Clayton, investigators found Karen Waters also was missing.

The circumstances surrounding the disappearance led investigators to believe the two being missing and not in communication with anyone was not voluntary, since their modes of transportation known to either subject has been accounted for and no indications of travel have been uncovered, Wallace said. 

On Saturday, the remains of the two missing people were found; Wallace did not immediately release details of the deaths.

“It’s sad that this happened in Trinity County, but the people responsible for it are in custody,” he said. “It’s not illegal to disappear. It’s illegal to be made to disappear.”

Wallace did say the suspects have given a complete confession, but the investigation still is ongoing. He pointed out the work done by Jeremy Carroll, Richard Harrison, Mark Cole and others, and the Montgomery Sheriff’s Office which sent investigators to help, as instrumental in solving the case.

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Preteen to represent ag, Trinity

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Shown are (Left)Trinity Fotheringham, (Center) Paisley Fotheringham, and (Right) Mia Zuniga. COURTESY PHOTOSShown are (Left)Trinity Fotheringham, (Center) Paisley Fotheringham, and (Right) Mia Zuniga. COURTESY PHOTOS

Special to the New-Standard

TRINITY — Lansberry Elementary fifth-grader Mia Zuniga recently was named Trinity’s Junior Miss United States Agriculture Advocate.

She will be representing Trinity County in the Miss United States Agriculture Pageant Nov. 11-12 in Temple. This is a scholarship pageantry program advocating for agriculture with chances to win many different state titles.

Mia said she is so excited to be involved in such a new and rewarding experience. If chosen for a Texas title, Mia will then progress to the National Miss United States Agriculture Pageant representing the entire state of Texas in July 2023.

Mia is involved in her youth group at church, cheerleading competitively and recreationally, and shows animals at the fair. This year, Mia was selected the to serve as the secretary for her 4-H club.

Alongside Mia will be sisters Trinity Fotheringham, the Tiny Miss United States Agriculture Advocate, and Paisley Fotheringham, the Little Miss United States Agriculture Advocate.

Both girls also attend Lansberry Elementary, cheer recreationally, play T-ball, and are involved in Clover Kids with the local 4-H program.

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Two crashes, only one injured

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TCNS staff

Car WreckTRINITY COUNTY – The Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers investigated a two-vehicle crash on state Highway 94, near the 706 mile-marker, that occurred Sept. 20. 

The preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 7:30 a.m., a 2015 Ford SUV was traveling east, followed by a 2005 Cadillac passenger car. It is reported that the driver of the Cadillac failed to control its speed when the Ford reduced their speed due to slower moving traffic ahead. 

The driver of the Ford, 44-year-old Melissa Randall of Trinity, and two child passengers, a 13-year-old and an 11-year-old, were not injured. 

The driver of the Cadillac, a 16-year-old juvenile resident of Trinity, was not injured. The driver was cited for failing to control speed. 

On Sept. 17, troopers investigated a single-vehicle crash on state Highway 94, near Due Road.  

The preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 8:05 p.m., a 2013 Nissan pickup was traveling east. It is reported that the driver was distracted within the vehicle and traveled across the westbound lane and struck a guardrail. This caused the pickup to overturn on its passenger side and catch fire.  

The driver, 55-year-old Michael Terry of Trinity, was transported to HCA Houston Healthcare for treatment.  

The is an ongoing investigation. 

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Crashes leave two injured

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CrimeScene road

Special to the News-Standard

TRINITY — Texas Department of Public Safety investigated two separate crashes on FM Road 356, just west of White Rock Acres Road on Thursday. 

The preliminary crash investigation indicates at approximately 11:20 p.m., a 1999 Chevrolet pickup was traveling east when the driver drove off the roadway to the right. The vehicle overturned and ejected the driver. 

The driver, Raymond King, 31, of Trinity, was transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston by medical helicopter for treatment. 

Just moments after the crash involving King, a 2004 Harley Davidson motorcycle also was traveling east when the motorcyclist struck the spare tire from the previous crash, causing the motorcycle to crash. 

The motorcyclist, Larry Brisco, 46, of Plainview, was transported to CHI Hospital in Bryan by medical helicopter for treatment. 

The crashes remain under investigation.

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Residents barely escape house fire

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Trinity firefighters battled a blaze at a home on Falcon Street they believed was caused by a faulty air conditioner. Courtesy photoTrinity firefighters battled a blaze at a home on Falcon Street they believed was caused by a faulty air conditioner. Courtesy photo

TCNS staff

TRINITY — Three residents narrowly escaped a fire that erupted on Falcon Street around 5:30 p.m. Friday.

Assistant Fire Chief Keith Johnson said the Trinity Fire Department responded to the structure fire in the Pinecrest subdivision on Falcon Street with three trucks and 14 firefighters. They contained the fire in about 20 minutes. 

Even though the fire was extinguished quickly, the damage to the home and its contents was extensive. Resident Laura Thrasher and two others were able to exit the building during the fire, and no injuries were reported. 

Johnson said the blaze possibly was caused by a malfunctioning window air conditioner. 

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