Jeffrey Bryan McLaughlin: Texas man, 58, arrested for killing prosecutor wife who dealt with abuse cases
HOOD COUNTY, TEXAS: The 58-year-old husband of a former assistant county prosecutor, who assisted with the issuance of protective orders, was reportedly arrested for the murder of his wife on New Year’s Day.
Jeffrey Bryan McLaughlin was arrested on a charge of first-degree felony murder of his wife Venisa and was booked into jail just before 2 pm on Sunday, January 1. According to the Hood County News, Sheriff Roger Deeds said that the investigation was still ongoing and did not divulge any details about Venisa’s death. “We are still actively investigating this call,” he reportedly said.
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County Attorney Matt Mills told the outlet that Venisa worked in his office as an assistant county attorney. He continued that in addition to working on protective order cases, she handled the peace courts and mental commitments among various other duties. A restraining order or protective order, is an order used by a court to protect a person in a situation involving alleged domestic violence, child abuse, assault, harassment, stalking, or sexual assault.
Mills reportedly said that Venisa was among the staffers when he first took office six years ago and that she left “on friendly terms” around the end of April, 2022. Calling the situation “very tragic," he reportedly said, “This is a really big loss for our office, even though she no longer worked there.” On Monday, January 2, Deeds reportedly said that McLaughlin's bond had been set at $250,000.
As per Law&Crime, Deeds said that an inquest into Venisa’s death was being carried out by Justice of the Peace Roger Howell. “It’s a day later and I’m still in incredible sadness for the death of a good friend and one of the smartest and sweetest women I’ve ever known. My heart breaks for their daughters,” one of Venisa's friends wrote on Facebook. According to the outlet, the couple had two grow-up daughters in their early 20s.
Another shocking murder was reported on New Year's Day. Cristopher Colbert, a 39-year-old man from Pennsylvania reportedly murdered his wife, Tamara, 39, after a heated argument. He later called his father and told him she had shot herself and died.