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June 13, 2008A new test for Victoria’s legal systemThe relationship between law enforcement and the district attorney has been likened to school boys fighting over toys.District Attorney Stephen Tyler, Police Chief Bruce Ure and Sheriff T. Michael O’Connor met earlier this year to patch a months-long rift. more >> |
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January 27, 2008
District attorney violates spirit of open judiciary
Compassion for murder victim Sally Blackwell's family is understandable and commendable. Victoria County District Attorney Stephen Tyler, however, took that compassion too far by trying to keep the public in the dark about the plea-bargain hearing for suspect Jeffrey Grimsinger earlier this month. Sheriff T. Michael O'Connor took some heat unfairly for pointing out that Tyler went to inappropriate lengths to keep the hearingso quiet that eventhe sheriff didn't know about the case'sresolution. The Sixth Amendment to theConstitution guarantees defendants the right to a speedy and public trial. more >>January 18, 2008
Who shocked the sheriff?
A pleased Sheriff T. Michael O'Connor strolled from a mediation room nine days ago, but two days later he marched into a courtroom visibly upset. District Attorney Steve Tyler didn't tell O'Connor that Jeffrey Grimsinger would agree to a plea deal at 9 a.m. on Jan. 11. The sheriff, who arrived late and after the media, didn't like being one of the last to know. "I'm very disenchanted as to the lack of advanced notice that this was happening this morning," O'Connor said Jan. 11 from outside the courtroom. "We made efforts earlier this week to establish trust." Days before, law enforcement and Tyler ended a three-month dispute regarding an affidavit request the DA made of officers and deputies. more >>January 11, 2008
Family, friends recall Sally Blackwell
Sally Blackwell once bought Christmas gifts for the man who pleaded guilty Friday to kidnapping and killing her, her daughter said Friday. After a judge sentenced Jeffrey Grimsinger to life in prison for the 2006 murder, Blackwell’s family talked about her life. more >>‘I did it, Dad’
Jeffrey Frank Grimsinger parked his truck in Sally Blackwell’s driveway, entered her home through an unlocked back door and walked into her bedroom. Blackwell, 53, slept. more >>Family, friends shocked at guilty plea
Jeffrey Grimsinger’s guilty plea Friday brought sadness to the faces of close friends and neighbors of the killer’s father, Mike Grimsinger. After the shock wore off, the pain set in. more >>Grimsinger says he acted alone
You had to strain to hear it. Michael Ratcliff and Michael Buchanek were not involved in Sally Blackwell’s murder, it was quietly said in court Friday. more >>"I did it, Dad" -- Grimsinger agrees to plea deal, avoids death penalty in Blackwell murder
Jeffrey Frank Grimsinger agreed to a plea deal shortly after 9 this morning in a Victoria County courtroom. In accepting the plea, he avoided the death penalty and likely will spend the rest of his life in prison. more >>Grimsinger faces new charge in Blackwell killing
Jeffrey Frank Grimsinger, who is charged with killing a Victoria Child Protective Services worker in March 2006, was re-indicted last week to add an aggravated sexual assault allegation to the capital murder charge. The charge also includes allegations of robbery, burglary and kidnapping in the death of Sally Blackwell, 53, on March 15, 2006. more >>November 15, 2006
Grimsinger faces death penalty
The state will seek the death penalty against the 24-year-old man accused of killing Child Protective Services program director Sally Blackwell in March. Paperwork was filed Tuesday afternoon announcing the state’s intention. more >>January 11, 2008
Grimsinger faces death penalty
The state will seek the death penalty against the 24-year-old man accused of killing Child Protective Services program director Sally Blackwell in March. Paperwork was filed Tuesday afternoon announcing the state’s intention. more >>Grimsinger is indicted
A Victoria County grand jury indicted Jeffrey Grimsinger Thursday evening with the strangulation of Sally Blackwell and officials say no evidence ties anyone else to the death. The 23-year-old Victoria man, who was already in jail on the capital murder charge, is accused of killing the 53-year-old Child Protective Services program director whose body was found bound in a Victoria County pasture on March 15. more >>Grimsinger is indicted
A Victoria County grand jury indicted Jeffrey Grimsinger Thursday evening with the strangulation of Sally Blackwell and officials say no evidence ties anyone else to the death. The 23-year-old Victoria man, who was already in jail on the capital murder charge, is accused of killing the 53-year-old Child Protective Services program director whose body was found bound in a Victoria County pasture on March 15. more >>August 13, 2006
Defense attorney assigned
Victoria lawyer Elliott Costas has been appointed to represent the Victoria man charged with capital murder in the strangulation of Sally Blackwell. Jeffrey Grimsinger, 23, was arrested Thursday in connection to the death of the 53-year-old Child Protective Services program director whose body was found bound in a Victoria County pasture on March 15. more >>January 11, 2008
Defense attorney assigned
Victoria lawyer Elliott Costas has been appointed to represent the Victoria man charged with capital murder in the strangulation of Sally Blackwell. Jeffrey Grimsinger, 23, was arrested Thursday in connection to the death of the 53-year-old Child Protective Services program director whose body was found bound in a Victoria County pasture on March 15. more >>August 11, 2006
Arrest brings relief to those close to Blackwell
Friends and family said they were relieved Thursday when word began to spread that an arrest had been made in the strangulation killing of Sally Blackwell. “I hope that this arrest will help myself and the Victoria community to be able to rest a little bit easier and to sleep a little bit better at night,” said Judy Boyd, a close friend and co-worker of Blackwell’s. “I believe the person that committed this horrible crime needs to be punished for what they did. And I will leave that up to the powers that be.” more >>January 11, 2008
Arrest brings relief to those close to Blackwell
Friends and family said they were relieved Thursday when word began to spread that an arrest had been made in the strangulation killing of Sally Blackwell. “I hope that this arrest will help myself and the Victoria community to be able to rest a little bit easier and to sleep a little bit better at night,” said Judy Boyd, a close friend and co-worker of Blackwell’s. “I believe the person that committed this horrible crime needs to be punished for what they did. And I will leave that up to the powers that be.” more >>July 10, 2006
Blackwell’s death still under investigation, but family isn’t satisfied
Editor’s Note: For this report, the Advocate has again elected not to publish the name of a former captain in the Victoria County Sheriff’s Office who has been identified as a “person of interest” in the Sally Blackwell homicide. This is in keeping with our long-standing policy of not identifying suspects in criminal investigations unless they are actually charged with a crime. We are aware, of course, that some other media organizations have identified the man, but we note that they have not identified the other suspects in the case. We believe our standard is both fair and responsible, and we hew to our own standards regardless of what other media do. – Scot Walker, ed. It has been more than 100 days since Sally Blackwell was found dead in a pasture near Victoria. Her family has grown impatient with the lack of information released by law enforcement and they are questioning the integrity and ability of the sheriff to investigate the case because of his professional, personal and legal relationship with a suspect. more >>January 11, 2008
Blackwell’s death still under investigation, but family isn’t satisfied
Editor’s Note: For this report, the Advocate has again elected not to publish the name of a former captain in the Victoria County Sheriff’s Office who has been identified as a “person of interest” in the Sally Blackwell homicide. This is in keeping with our long-standing policy of not identifying suspects in criminal investigations unless they are actually charged with a crime. We are aware, of course, that some other media organizations have identified the man, but we note that they have not identified the other suspects in the case. We believe our standard is both fair and responsible, and we hew to our own standards regardless of what other media do. – Scot Walker, ed. It has been more than 100 days since Sally Blackwell was found dead in a pasture near Victoria. Her family has grown impatient with the lack of information released by law enforcement and they are questioning the integrity and ability of the sheriff to investigate the case because of his professional, personal and legal relationship with a suspect. more >>May 26, 2006
Blackwell was kidnapped, sheriff’s office says
Officials said Thursday they believe slain CPS worker Sally Blackwell was kidnapped from her home and then killed but declined to elaborate further. Lt. Tom Copeland, with the Victoria County Sheriff’s Office, said, “We believe she was kidnapped, based on what we know.” more >>May 05, 2006
Rumors can be very hurtful and harmful
Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity; more >>May 03, 2006
Law enforcement still waiting on lab results of evidence in CPS worker killing
Victoria County Sheriff T. Michael O’Connor said they are still awaiting lab results of evidence collected in the death of a CPS program director killed in March. No arrests have been made. more >>Alive and not arrested
Former Victoria County Sheriff Mike Ratcliff said Tuesday that, contrary to the rumors, he has not committed suicide, has not confessed to any killings and has not been arrested. The rumors, all of which contain details that law officers say are not true, connect Ratcliff to the death of CPS program director Sally Blackwell. more >>April 22, 2006
Officials wait for test results in case of CPS worker’s death
The investigation continues into the killing of a Child Protective Services supervisor last month with no arrests made to date. Sgt. Cory Hughston, with the Victoria County Sheriff’s Office, said law enforcement is still awaiting tests results on evidence sent to the Texas Department of Public Safety crime lab in Corpus Christi. more >>April 07, 2006
Officials sift through evidence in case of CPS worker’s death
Evidence that could help solve the killing of a Child Protective Services director is being analyzed but no details are being released at this time, according to investigators in the case. Victoria police are also still awaiting lab results in the death of a 42-year-old woman who was found in March. CPS program director Sally Blackwell, 53, was found dead March 15 alongside Hanselman Road. She had been reported missing the previous day after not showing up for work. more >>March 28, 2006
Home, vehicle of former sheriff’s officer searched in slaying investigation
Members of the Victoria Police Department have searched the home and vehicle of a former high-ranking officer with the Victoria County Sheriff’s Office for clues into the possible kidnapping and death of Child Protective Services program director Sally Blackwell. An affidavit filed to obtain a search warrant indicated that bloodhounds brought to the spot where Blackwell’s body was found along Hanselman Road led investigators to the former officer’s home. more >>March 22, 2006
‘Petite, but ever so mighty’
SAN ANTONIO – Colleagues of slain social worker Sally Blackwell, who worked on behalf of abused children, were urged Tuesday to honor her memory by striving even more diligently to make a difference in the lives of children. An estimated 200-plus, many from the state’s Child Protective Services agency, which investigates reports of child abuse and places children in foster care when necessary, attended a special memorial service for Blackwell held at the Porter Loring Funeral Home on McCullough Avenue. more >>March 21, 2006
Proclamationis not enough
One out of five caseworkers for protective services agencies nationwide has been a victim of job-related violence, according to a 2002 National Association of Social Workers survey. That is not surprising. If anything, it is surprising that more caseworkers are not physically assaulted while working to protect the children who themselves have been victimized by abusive parents, relatives or other caregivers. more >>No quick resolution expected in Blackwell slaying case
Law enforcement doesn’t expect to have anyone immediately charged with the killing of a 53-year-old Child Protective Services supervisor last week. “Basically we want to emphasize the criminal part of any investigation is attention to detail,” said Sgt. Cory Hughston, with the Victoria County Sheriff’s Office. “We want to get as much information as we can from all sources… more >>March 19, 2006
CPS worker was ‘petite in size but big at heart’
Stuck in the air vent of my pickup is a white business card that says I have an appointment with Sally Blackwell, M.A., L.P.C., on March 21 at 3:30 p.m. more >>Corpus Christi psychic offers help in slaying investigation
Victoria law enforcement Saturday continued to interview people in the strangling death of a Child Protective Services director, and the mobile forensics unit continued its investigation of a home in the same subdivision where the victim lived. The body of 53-year-old Sally Blackwell of Victoria was found Wednesday afternoon near Hanselman Road in southeastern Victoria County. more >>March 18, 2006
Police search neighboring home
Law enforcement spent all day Friday interviewing people and following leads in the death of Sally Blackwell, while a forensics team from the Department of Public Safety arrived in Victoria to execute a search warrant on a home in the same subdivision where Blackwell lived. The body of the 53-year-old Victoria woman was found Wednesday afternoon alongside Hanselman Road in southeastern Victoria County. She had been missing for nearly two days. The cause of death was ruled strangulation. more >>March 17, 2006
Violent threats are common for child protection workers
In what was slain Victoria social worker Sally Blackwell’s line of work, threats aren’t unusual. “Threats are pretty commonplace,” said Patrick Crimmins, spokesman for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. “But actual physical violence is relatively rare.” more >>Slain CPS worker was strangled
Sally Blackwell was strangled, but Victoria law enforcement officials won’t say where or when she was killed. They did say there did not appear to be a struggle inside her Victoria home. more >>March 16, 2006
Missing CPS worker found dead
For more than a day, family and friends didn’t know what happened to 53-year-old Sally Blackwell. That uncertainty came to an end Wednesday afternoon when her body was found alongside Hanselman Road in Victoria County. Lt. Mike Hernandez, with the Victoria Police Department, said the department is treating the death of Blackwell, program director of South Texas Child Protective Services, as a homicide. more >>June 10, 2008
Law enforcement smacked with lawsuit
A former suspect in the Sally Blackwell murder says law enforcement violated his civil rights and he must sue to keep others from suffering the same dilemma. Attorney Rex Easley Jr. filed a complaint on Tuesday for Michael Buchanek, a former sheriff's office captain under previous sheriff Michael Ratcliff, citing that law enforcement unlawfully issued a search warrant for Buchanek's home and car. Law enforcement said he was one suspect in the Blackwell killing. Blackwell, a 53-year-old Victoria Child Protective Services worker, was found dead on March 15, 2006. Jeffrey Grimsinger, 25, pleaded guilty to her murder Jan 11. The complaint additionally faults law enforcement policy, custom and practice for contributing to the unlawful search warrant. Easley said Buchanek is suing the city and county to make sure no one else's civil rights may be violated in the future. "I intend to prove that the things law enforcement said to support the search warrant are not true," Easley said. "We believe they were reckless in what they did and ruined a man's life." Easley filed the suit against the city of Victoria, former Chief of Police Richard L. Jones, police detective Sam Eyre, Sheriff T. Michael O'Connor, deputy sheriff Tom Copeland, deputy sheriff Tony Daniel and Fort Bend County deputy sheriff Keith Pikett. Easley said law enforcement focused on Buchanek, who returned from training Iraqi police before his home was searched in March 2006. The affidavit for the search warrant stated bloodhounds from Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office traced the scent of Blackwell and the surrounding area "directly to the residence of Michael Buchanek." Easley plans to prove that what officers swore the bloodhounds did was impossible and by countering other sworn statements, plans to prove no probable cause existed. City attorney David Atmar Smith said that if drug dogs traced a path to Buchanek's home, rightly or wrongly, it still constituted probable cause. Smith said he will be of counsel in this case, but cannot comment further until he learns more details. Smith also questioned why Buchanek would not have worked to change policies while he was high-ranking in the sheriff's office. "We'll have to see what the facts show," Smith said. Buchanek was a "person of interest," Sheriff T. Michael O'Connor said. He said the investigation didn't focus primarily on Buchanek. O'Connor said he never mentioned Buchanek taking any role in the Blackwell case and that a news reporter named him as part of a question in a press conference. "There were a number of persons of interest," O'Connor said. "We went through the process of elimination, then focused on the final, which was Mr. Grimsinger." Although O'Connor was named executor of Buchanek's estate while he was in Iraq, the sheriff said when Buchanek became a person of interest, he maintained "absolute objectivity." "It was just as important to prove one's innocence as one's guilt," O'Connor said. "That was what we pursued no matter who was on the list, including him." Easley said he would challenge "reckless statements" made by law enforcement, leading to his client being harassed, seized and evicted from his home and placed under surveillance. "As American citizens, we rely on the constitution to protect from this type of thing," Easley said. Tara Bozick is a reporter for the Advocate. Contact her at 361-580-6504 or tbozick@vicad.com, or comment on this story at www.VictoriaAdvocate.com. more >>Judge refuses to dismiss Blackwell-related suit against Victoria
Advocate staff report A federal judge had denied the city of Victoria's motion to dismiss a federal lawsuit filed by Michael Buchanek claiming his civil rights were violated during the March 2006 investigation into the death of Sally Blackwell. Buchanek, a former captain with the Victoria's sheriff's office, has also sued the county and law enforcement. He is represented by Rex L. Easley Jr. of Cole, Cole and Easley. The city filed a motion to dismiss on April 4 citing the suit failed to state a claim. Federal district judge John Rainey dismissed the motion on April 8. Easley has said officers had no probable cause in issuing a search warrant of Buchanek's home during the investigation. Jeffrey Grimsinger, 25, pleaded guilty to her murder on Jan. 11. more >>- Page 1