Sherman woman, two kids slain; husband turns self in
Sherman police say man had surgery for self-inflicted cuts
10:42 PM CST on Saturday, March 27, 2004
SHERMAN – A father with self-inflicted cuts walked into the Sherman police headquarters Saturday and turned himself in hours after his estranged wife and her two children were found stabbed to death.
Laura Christine Thomas, 20, was discovered about 7:30 a.m. by her father, Paul Boren, at the Arrow Wood Apartments at 1200 W. Taylor St. in Sherman. He also found the bodies of his grandchildren, Andre Lee Boren, 4, and Leyha Marie Hughes, 13 months.
All three bodies were taken to the Dallas County medical examiner's office Saturday, police said.
The door frame was damaged, indicating someone forced their way into the third-floor apartment, said Sgt. Todd Smithers, Sherman police spokesman. Ms. Thomas' body was in a hallway near the kitchen. Andre was in a toddler bed; Leyha was on the floor near her crib.
Police said the victims' injuries were unusual but declined to be specific.
Mr. Boren could not be reached for comment Saturday.
According to Sgt. Smithers, at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Ms. Thomas' estranged husband, who is Andre's father, showed up at the Sherman police station at 317 S. Travis St. Police have not identified the man because he has not been charged.
"He walked in with blood on him," Sgt. Smithers said. "He had what appeared to be multiple knife wounds. I'd consider it rare that they come in with self-inflicted wounds."
The injured man was taken by ambulance to the Wilson N. Jones Medical Center in Sherman. Sgt. Smithers said the man underwent surgery and is listed in stable condition.
When he is released, he faces capital murder charges, police said. The crimes carry a capital enhancement because of the age and number of victims, police said.
Ms. Thomas' boyfriend, who is Leyha's father, called Mr. Boren after seeing Ms. Thomas' husband in the vicinity of the apartment when he left for work Saturday morning, police said. It was when Mr. Boren went to check on her that he found the bodies.
Christy Logan, an assistant manager at a Sherman KFC, said Ms. Thomas had worked at the fast-food restaurant for about six months and was in training to become a shift leader.
"She had a real gentle spirit and always had a smile," Ms. Logan said. She heard about Ms. Thomas' death Saturday when another employee called. She went to the apartment complex, where she described the scene as devastating.
Neighbor Waverly Burkins, who knew Ms. Thomas' husband, said Ms. Thomas "was just a great person."
Mr. Burkins noted that seven or eight months ago, Ms. Thomas' estranged husband told him that he was concerned about the company she was keeping.
Laqueta Wilson, a friend of the suspect who said she grew up with him, said that he had had problems as a teen but that she never knew him to be capable of something like this. "He's going to have to live with that because that was his child."
Staff writer Pat Gillespie contributed to this report.
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