Venisa McLaughlin.Photo: Facebook
Jeffrey Bryan McLaughlin, 58, of Granbury, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of his wife, Venisa McLaughlin, 58, on Jan. 1, according to a press release from the Hood County Sheriff’s Office.
Details surrounding the former prosecutor’s death remained vague Tuesday, as the sheriff’s office said the investigation is still active.
Venisa was a former assistant attorney for Hood County and served the office for over five years, County Attorney Matt Mills confirmed in aFacebook post.
“I woke up this New Year’s morning to hear heartbreaking news. Our former assistant county attorney, who started with me on my first day in office, was killed this morning,” the statement reads.
Jeffrey Bryan McLaughlin.Hood County Sheriff’s Office
“She served our office for over five years, and she helped us through some trying times at the start of my first term. She also helped tremendously in my re-election campaign in 2020. Our prayers are with her two daughters and the rest of her family,” the statement continues.
Mills toldHoodCountyNewsthat she left “on friendly terms” near the end of April 2022, adding that she primarily dealt with protective orders, as well as justice of the peace courts, mental commitments, and other responsibilities.
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Venisa graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration/management from Oklahoma State University in 1993, before going on to earn her Juris Doctor from Texas A&M University in 2003, according to herLinkedIn profile.
She had been licensed to practice law in Texas since 2007, according to theofficial state bar website.
Justice of the Peace Roger Howell is conducting an inquest into Venisa’s death, Hood County Sheriff Roger Deeds toldLaw and Crime.
Jeffrey is being held in the Hood County Jail on $250,000 bond, police said in the release. It was not immediately clear if he had entered a plea or retained an attorney who could speak on his behalf.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go tothehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
source: people.com
