Polk County Enterprise (Livingston, Tex.), Vol. 122, No. 72, Ed. 1 Sunday, September 5, 2004 Page: 1 of 46
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Silsbee...................35 Kirbyville...................37 Cleveland..................28 Garrison...............22 Groveton.............18 Shepherd..........31
Livingston.............30 Corrigan-Camden......28 Hamshire-Fannett.... 21 Elysian Fields ' 'averly......13 Hardin................14
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ENTERPRISE
Volume 122 Number 72
The Dominant News and Advertising Source in Polk County
UPS 437-340 Price: 50 cents
Man confesses to murder of four family members
ENTERPRISE PHOTO BY GORDON LEBARRON
CRIME SCENE AREA - Members of the Livingston Volunteer Fire Department stand outside
this home in the 200 block of Escapees Dr. where 75-year-old Floyd Franklin Thompson
murdered his wife, daughter, son-in-law and grandson Thursday afternoon before setting their
bodies on fire and turning himself in at the Polk County Sheriffs Department. Charged with
four counts of capital murder, he is being held in the Polk County Jail without bond.
Federal inquiry leads here
By EMILY BANKS
News Editor
LIVINGSTON - A local man
remains in the Polk County Jail
with no bond after confessing to the
murders of four family members
Thursday.
Floyd Franklin Thompson, 75,
was charged with four counts of
capital murder in the deaths of his
wife, daughter, son-in-law and
grandson, who was being home-
schooled.
The victims were pronounced
dead at the scene by Precinct 4 Jus-
tice of the Peace Steve McEntyre.
“Although we assume the victims
are Betty Canterbury Thompson,
74, Eva Lou Thompson Saad, 46,
Edmond Mitri Saad III, 45, and
Edmond Mitri Saad IV, 15, the
bodies were burned so badly that
positive identifications could not be
made,” Polk County Sheriff Billy
Ray Nelson said, adding that DNA
testing will have to be conducted.
According to Nelson, Thompson
entered the Polk County Sheriffs
Department at approximately 12:45
p.m. Thursday and told the dis-
patcher he had just shot four peo-
ple. Two deputies met with
Thompson who then led them to a
residence in the 200 block of Es-
capees Drive.
“Smoke was coming out of the
mobile home, which was his
daughter’s residence, so we called
the fire department,” Polk County
Sheriff Billy Ray Nelson said.
“From there, he led US to his
residence a few doors down and
recovered the pistol he said he’d
used,” Nelson said.
“It appears that one was shot in
the kitchen area first and the others
headed toward the back,” Nelson
said, adding that the other three
bodies were found in a back bed-
room.
After killing the victims, Thomp-
son poured Coleman fuel on them
and set them on fire. Nelson said
Having obtained a search warrant
from 258ltl District Judge Elizabeth
E. Coker to enter the residence,
sheriffs deputies requested the
help of the DPS crime lab out of
Houston and proceeded to search
both residences. The Texas Rang-
ers and the Polk County District
Attorney’s Office assisted.
Twenty members of the
Livingston Volunteer Fire Depart-
ment and three trucks responded to
the scene, having received the call
at 1:25 p.m.
LIVINGSTON - A public hear-
ing on the proposed 2004 tax rate is
on the agenda for a special called
meeting of the Polk County Com-
missioners’ Court at 9 a.m. Tues-
day.
The court has proposed a rate of
55.50 cents per $100 valuation. The
rate is unchanged from last year
and includes 35.71 cents for the
general fUnd, 9.100 cents for road
and bridge and 10.69 cents ear-
marked for debt service.
Commissioners are slated to set
and announce the date, time and
place of the meeting at which the
FLOYD FRANKLIN
THOMPSON
...charged with four counts of
capital murder
court will vote on the 2004 tax rate
as 10 a.m. Sept. 14 in the commis-
sioners’ courtroom.
The court is expected to consider
approval to advertise for bids for
the purchase of a tractor and boom
mower for Precinct 3.
A proclamation in support of Na-
tional Preparedness Month is also
expected to be considered for ap-
proval.
The meeting will begin at 9 a.m.
in the commissioners' courtroom
on the third floor of the Polk
County Courthouse.
LIVINGSTON - Deputies with
the special response team and the
criminal investigations division of
the Polk County Sheriffs Depart-
ment assisted federal agents with
the U.S. Secret Service in execut-
ing a federal search and arrest war-
rant at a Polk County location on
Aug. 27, the end result of a federal
investigation that began in San An-
tonio.
A subject was arrested by federal
authorities in San Antonio for pro-
ducing, possession and passing
counterfeit checks, according to
Polk County Sheriff Billy Ray Nel-
son.
After the subject was arrested, a
witness’ residence in the San Anto-
nio area was reportedly attacked in
what was described by federal au-
thorities as a drive-by shooting.
LIVINGSTON - Polk County’s
unemployment rate declined 0.5
percent between June and July,
according to latest figures from the
Texas Workforce Commission
(TWC).
Polk County’s July unemploy-
ment rate was 5.8 percent. The
highest rate recorded in 2004 was
6.4 percent in January, with the
lowest being 5.3 percent in April.
The 5.8 percent July rate reflects
1,031 persons unemployed out of
an estimated labor force of 15,887.
Unemployment rates were un-
changed or down in all but two of
the 12 counties that comprise the
Deep East Texas Council of Gov-
ernment (DETCOG) area. DET-
COG includes Angelina, Houston,
Jasper, Nacogdoches, Newton,
Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San
Jacinto, Shelby, Trinity and Tyler
counties.
Houston County had the lowest
unemployment rate in the DET-
COG area at 5.0 percent, 0.2 per-
cent lower than the previous month.
Nacogdoches County had the sec-
ond lowest rate, 5.1 percent, up 0.3
percent from June Newton County
The investigation of the shooting
led to Polk County and local inves-
tigators were called on by federal
agents to assist in locating the sus-
pected shooter’s residence and as-
sist in the investigation.
The Polk County Sheriffs De-
partment’s special response team
was called on to make entry into
the property due to reports that the
suspect was reportedly armed and
dangerous. Upon arrival, the sus-
pect was standing outside the resi-
dence and ordered to the ground.
He was then taken into custody
without incident. The residence
was then entered and searched, at
which time a female subject was
located and detained.
Douglas Miller Jr., 29, of
Livingston - the brother of the sub-
had the highest unemployment rate
in the 12-county area at 14.8 per-
cent, down 0.8 percent from the
previous month.
Statewide, total Nonagricultural
Employment in Texas gained 5,600
jobs from June to July and 112,000
jobs since September 2003. The
Texas seasonally adjusted unem-
ployment rate was unchanged from
June to July, remaining at 5.7 per-
cent. Initial claims for unemploy-
ment compensation for the week
ending July 3, 2004 declined 9.5
percent compared to one year age.
“Even though the unemployment
rate remained the same, Texas con-
See TWC pg. 7A
Onalasl a sets
budget workshop
ONALASKA - A budget work-
shop is on the agenda for a special
called meetin<’ of the Onalaska City
Council at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
The meeting will take place in
the Onalaska City Hall at 372 S.
FM 356.
ject arrested in San Antonio in con-
nection with the counterfeit checks
- was arrested on a federal warrant,
charging him with retaliation
against a federal witness. Miller
was taken to a federal magistrate in
Beaumont and turned over to the
U.S. Marshal Service.
The female subject - Melissa
Camile Bomer, 24, of Livingston -
was arrested and charged with po -
session of a controlled substanc
found while executing the searc
warrant. Bomer is out on bond
During the search, agents seized
items that were consistent with the
focus of the investigation. Also
found in the search was a computer
and counterfeit checks that may
further link Miller with the original
counterfeit check case involving his
brother.
Miller is also being inv. tigated
for passing some of the counterfeit
checks in San Jacinto County and
there may be additional charges
filed.
The sheriff said the federal
agents were extremely complimen-
tary of the investigators and special
response team.
“The professionalism and exper-
tise of the entire investigative divi-
sion in the investigation and the
special response team in executing
the search and arrest warrant was
exceptional,” Nelson said. “They
are all to be commended for a job
well done.”
Labor Day
closures set
Banks, post offices and fed-
eral, state and local governmental
offices will be closed Monday in
observance of Labor Day.
There will be no curbside gar-
bage collection for city of
Livingston residents on Monday.
The regular trash collection
schedule will resume on Tues-
day.
The Polk County Enterprise
business office will also be
closed on Monday.
ENTERPRISE PHOTO BY VANESA BRASHIER
Jim Squyres (right) and Amy Owens (second from right) present a passive alcohol
sensor (PAS) to Chuck Staton, president of the Polk County Peace Officers Asso-
ciation. The sensor, which can detect trace amounts of alcohol in a person’s breath
or in a confined space like a vehicle, locker or room, will be rotated amona local law
enforcement agencies. Phyllis Grandgeorge (left), executive director of the Drug
Abuse Council of Deep East Texas, attended the presentation.
Area law enforcement groups now armed
with high-tech alcohol-detection device
By VANESA BRASHIER
Feature/special sections editor
LIVINGSTON - In the battle
to keep drunken drivers off the
streets, law enforcement officers in
Polk County just got a new weapon
- a lightweight, alcohol sensor that
can detect trace amounts of alco-
hol in a person’s breath.
The device, called PAS (passive
alcohol sensor), looks and works
like a standard police-type flash-
light. But when the sensor is initi-
ated, it will alert an officer to the
presence of alcohol.
The PAS can also sniff for open
containers of alcohol, trace
amounts of alcohol in other bever-
ages and liquids, and can detect
alcohol in enclosed spaces like
lockers, vehicles and rooms. It is
particularly helpful in detecting
alcohol in subjects who refuse
breathalyzer tests.
The device was provided for
local law enforcement agencies by
Polk County Cares, a local drug
and alcohol prevention coalition
that is under the management of
the Drug Abuse Council of Deep
East Texas. The coalition pur-
chased the device through a state
incentive grant.
Amy Owens, co-director of
See SENSOR pg. 3A
See SUSPECT pg. 2A
County tax hearing
slated for Tuesday
Jobless rate dips
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White, Barbara. Polk County Enterprise (Livingston, Tex.), Vol. 122, No. 72, Ed. 1 Sunday, September 5, 2004, newspaper, September 5, 2004; Livingston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth820690/m1/1/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Livingston Municipal Library.