Who is Sarah Jean Hartsfield? Texas woman, 48, arrested for murder after husband dies of ‘suspicious illness’
CHAMBER'S COUNTY, TEXAS: Sarah Jean Hartsfield, whose husband Joseph Hartsfield died of "suspicious illness", is currently facing charges of murder, according to law enforcement. Following a grand jury's decision, on Friday, February 3, the 48-year-old woman was indicted. The investigation began with Sheriff Brian Hawthorne receiving a call on January 7, 2023, at 6.30 pm, reporting her husband being taken to the facility with 'suspicious illness'.
In an official statement, the Chambers County Sheriff's Office said that the office's 911 dispatch "received a call from Baytown Houston Methodist Hospital in reference to the suspicious illness of an emergency room patient who was transported via ambulance from Beach City, Chambers County, Texas.” The police officers Corporal Yeatman and Deputy Southwell started an investigation after he was shifted to the emergency room at the hospital. According to the sheriff's statement, “due to inconsistencies in the information provided by the hospital staff,” an investigation was initiated.
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Who is Sarah Jean Hartsfield?
Sarah Jean Hartsfield, 48, has been accused of murdering her husband. The Chambers County Sheriff's Office said, Detective Rocz’s investigation found “additional inconsistencies, as well as other determining factors, made the illness appear more suspicious in nature. Sadly, the patient identified as Joseph Hartsfield of Beach City died as the result of what the Sheriff’s Office believes to be foul play.”
According to the sheriff's statement, meeting the Chambers County District Attorney Cheryl Lieck Henry is required as the investigators suggested the case has “enough probable cause” and has convened a grand jury on Friday.
Sarah Jean Hartsfield's arrest
The indictment and arrest of Hartsfield followed soon after she was placed as a suspect in connection to her husband's death and is currently being held on a bond of $5 million. Chambers County Brian Hawthorne stated, “This is an active case and only limited details can be released at this time.”
In the statement, Hawthorne said, “I appreciate the hard work of the deputies and detectives who followed their instincts and identified the suspicious circumstances surrounding Hartfield’s death that could have been labeled as ‘death due to illness’ instead of murder” and investigators believes it to be foul play. As per the Chambers County Sheriff's Office statement, Judge Chap Cain of the 253rd District Court has issued an arrest warrant and has also set a bond of $5,000,000 dollars.