Suspect in 1962 Louisiana slaying arrested in Canyon Lake

Tue, 21 May 2013 07:00:56 GMT

Comal County deputies arrested William Felix Vail, 73, Friday afternoon at a Canyon Lake post office on an arrest warrant in the 1962 death of his wife Mary Horton Vail on a Louisiana river.

"It's been a long haul and it's just a lot of anger with law enforcement for what they didn't do that they should have done back then," said Mary's brother Will Horton in Louisiana.

Vail originally told authorities that Mary had fallen off their boat and drowned when he made a sharp turn on the Calcasieu river in Louisiana.

"When you fall out the boat, you don't have the bruises and injuries that she had," said Horton.

Mary was found with bruises on her neck and legs, consistent with a struggle, as well as a scarf wrapped around her neck and partly stuffed down her throat.

However, her death was ruled an accident after the Calcasieu Parish district attorney said there wasn't enough evidence to prosecute.

Vail moved to Canyon Lake in late 2012 following a newspaper report that uncovered Vail was the last person to see three women alive including a girlfriend in 1973 and a second wife in 1984.

Lt. Mark Reynolds of the Comal County Sheriffs Department said their office was notified in January 2013 that Louisiana authorities were re-opening the 1962 case after a re-examination of Mary's autopsy report changed her death from accidental to murder.

On Friday, Reynolds said his office was notified that a warrant had been secured and undercover deputies arrested Vail in a post office parking lot without incident.

After a deputy admitted he didn't know why they were arresting him, Vail simply said, "I know what it's about."

Vail was extradited back to Louisiana where he will face second degree murder charges.

Mary Vail left behind a 4-month old son, Bill, who died three years ago from cancer.

For a list of recent stories Charles Gonzalez has done, click here.

Bexar County Sheriff's Office investigating death threats against Tony Parker

Mon, 20 May 2013 23:27:01 GMT

The Bexar County Sheriff's office is investigating death threats made against Tony Parker.

Sunday night, someone called 911 with about five minutes left in the game and made a threat against Tony Parker.

The information was passed on to the sheriff's office, who handles security at the AT&T Center.

Security was increased immediately, but it was determined there was no immediate danger.

Parker was escorted to his home by deputies, just to be safe.

The incident is still under investigation.

San Antonio woman shot in face identified

Mon, 20 May 2013 22:26:16 GMT

A woman who was shot in the face, and then knocked on doors in a Northeast Side neighborhood to get help, has been identified as Linda Ferraro, 30.

One of those neighbors called 911 around 1:30 a.m. Monday, summoning San Antonio police to the 5400 block of Villa Mercedes.

According to a police report, when officers arrived, they found Ferraro, “intoxicated” and “disoriented,” lying in the fetal position on the ground outside a home.

Ferraro had suffered a single gunshot to her right temple, with the bullet coming out through her opposite cheek, the report stated.

Officers said because of her state, they were unable to get many details from her about the suspect.

The report stated that the shooter possibly drove away in a white Nissan Altima.

Hours later, most neighbors who came out of their homes were surprised to hear what had happened, after having slept through the commotion.

"I didn't hear no shooting or anything because our house is so quiet in there,” said Walter Starr.

However, he and his wife did wake up when they got a knock on their door from officers.

"That's when he told my husband that this lady had been shot, possibly, and he asked if we knew this lady,” said Brenda Nobles, Starr’s wife.

The couple believes Ferraro was going door-to-door in search of help and also may have knocked on theirs at some point.

No one in the neighborhood Monday morning seemed to know her personally, leaving some to wonder why she was shot at that location.

A police report stated that Ferraro lives in unincorporated Bexar County.

For a list of recent stories Katrina Webber has done, click here.

Dog found chained to I-10 guardrail

Mon, 20 May 2013 22:24:30 GMT

Animal cruelty investigators are asking anyone who may have seen a man chain a dog to an Interstate 10 guardrail on Sunday to come forward.

The pit bull, nicknamed "Fresno" by Animal Care Services staff, was found padlocked with a weighted chain to a guardrail along the I-10 East access road near West Avenue on Sunday.

Fresno was wearing a thick black collar, which was linked to a heavy chain that was weighed down with 35 pounds of barbell weight plates.

A witness told ACS investigators they saw a Hispanic male in his 30s or 40s pull over his early model red Dodge Ram extended-bed pickup with paper plates, put on his hazard lights, and chain the dog to the guardrail.

ACS investigators are asking that anyone else who may have seen the abandonment or who recognizes the suspect's description to call 311.

Fresno was found in good condition and will be readied for placement once his stray hold expires, ACS staff said on Monday.

A slideshow is embedded here.

Police searching for robbery suspect

Mon, 20 May 2013 22:18:59 GMT

The San Antonio Police Department is looking anyone with information on a man wanted in the aggravated robbery of a Valero in the 2200 block of Bandera Road on Saturday.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 224-STOP (7867).

Information that leads to an arrest will receive a $5,000 reward.

Neighbor intervenes in couple's fight, gets arrested

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:59:38 GMT

A man was arrested Monday morning after San Antonio police said he broke up a fight between a couple, and then beat up the boyfriend.

According to police, the couple got into a fight at a North Side home on Harwood Drive and the girlfriend decided to take off.

Police said the boyfriend followed her in his vehicle and the woman crashed into a fence at the corner of Harwood and Buckeye Avenue.

Neighbors heard the commotion and intervened between the couple.

Police said one of the neighbors and the boyfriend got into a fight, and the boyfriend was badly beaten.

The boyfriend was taken to University Hospital for treatment. His condition was unknown as of 8 a.m. Monday.

Police said one of the neighbors involved was arrested and expected to face assault charges.

Woman shot in face knocks on door of northeast San Antonio home

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:53:33 GMT

A woman who had been shot in the face managed to knock on the door of northeast San Antonio home for help before collapsing on the sidewalk.

San Antonio police were called to the 5400 block of Villa Mercedes around 1:30 a.m. Monday.

They said people who live in a home there told them they answered a knock on the door and found a woman who had been shot, lying on the sidewalk.

Police said it appeared the woman was shot one time in the face with a .32 caliber weapon.

She was rushed to San Antonio Military Medical Center for treatment.

Police said she was not able to offer very much information about the person who shot her, only that the shooter fled in a white car.

The shooting victim is believed to be in her 30s. However, police said it did not appear that she lived in the neighborhood because no one seemed to know her.

For a list of recent stories Katrina Webber has done, click here.

Victim shares tips how to take quick action against identity theft

Mon, 20 May 2013 07:01:35 GMT

A thief was recently caught on surveillance cameras breaking into a woman's car and swiping her purse. It's a scenario Sylvia Cantu knows too well.

"I never leave my stuff in the car, ever, and this is the only place that I felt safe," said Cantu. "And lo and behold."

Cantu's purse was stolen in the parking lot of a church sports complex while she was standing just feet away.

"You come out and you don't know what to do," said Cantu. "My safe deposit box key was in my wallet, list of all my accounts, the numbers, my social security cards, because we had just done our income taxes, checkbooks, credit cards, ID."

That personal information, now in the heads of a thief, certainly puts Cantu's identity at risk.

But she took quick action. Her first suggestion is "keeping a list of all your credit cards and the numbers that are on there."

"That way, you can get home and know who to call," said Cantu.

Cantu also followed the advice of the Federal Trade Commission by placing an initial fraud alert with one of the nation's three credit reporting agencies.

This makes it harder for an identity thief to open an account in your name. It's free and lasts 90 days.

It also allows you to get a free credit report to review. If you see signs of fraud, then you can file an identity theft report.

Cantu's message is while you can't stop thieves, you can minimize the damage.

"You need to prepare for the worst case," said Cantu.

Whichever credit agency you make an initial fraud alert with is required to alert the nation's other two agencies.

Click here to find out more information about how to protect yourself against identity theft.

SAPD investigating violent death of woman

Sat, 18 May 2013 19:36:16 GMT

Police are trying to piece together a violent murder that happened Friday morning.

According to the San Antonio Police Department, 43 year-old Eleanor Gonzales was found dead in the front yard of a duplex located in the 5700 block of Canterbury.

Police say she died from multiple stab wounds.

“I haven't talked to her in a couple of days, she's been mad at me, so I haven't talked to her,” her son Matthew Sanchez said.

Sanchez said his mother lived alone at the duplex, and feared often for her safety.

“She lived by herself,” Sanchez said. “We would come stay once in a while so she wouldn't be by herself so stuff like this wouldn't happen. But lately, she's been mad at me, that's why I haven't been coming to stay with her.”

SAPD police chief William McManus said the woman’s body was found in the front yard by the mailbox by a neighbor who was taking her child to school.

Though McManus wouldn’t give many details, he said her death was violent, and that he believes the victim knew her attacker.

“I am cautiously optimistic in stating that I think we will close this case sooner, (rather) than later,” McManus said.

For a list of recent stories Isis Romero has done, click here.

Road rage sends man to S.A. hospital

Sat, 18 May 2013 14:26:31 GMT

A 19-year-old is in jail after police say he allegedly ran over a 25-year-old man in connection to road rage.

The victim was taken to the hospital by medical helicopter.

Police say the victim suffered injuries to his legs and arms.

Eyewitnesses told police they saw both drivers cutting each other off and engaging in aggressive and angry driving behavior.

“Our victim did stop and get out of the vehicle the other vehicle did run him over there’s something going on there, at this point in time, it appears to be more than an accident but we are investigating,” said San Antonio Police Sergeant Mark Hubbard.

At this time, charges are still pending on the 19 year old suspect.

For a list of recent stories Mariza Mendoza has done, click here.

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