Johnson County last sought the death penalty in 2012 after Fort Worth resident Mark Anthony Soliz was found guilty of the 2010 shooting death of a 61-year-old woman in her home near Godley. Soliz also shot and killed a delivery driver in Fort Worth earlier that same morning. The state executed Soliz in 2019. Johnson County District Attorney Dale Hanna, at the time, said he hoped never to have to go through a death penalty case again.
That changed in April after police say Burleson resident Jerry Don Elders, 39, shot a Burleson policeman and subsequently shot and killed a Burleson woman. Grand jurors indicted Elders on capital murder and other charges.
Burleson officer Joshua Lott at 4:06 a.m. April 14 conducted a traffic stop on a Mazda driven by Elders for a defective tail light. As Lott approached the vehicle, a woman in the passenger seat leaned back, at which time Elders displayed and fired a gun three times striking Lott in his chest and neck. Rescue workers transported Lott to John Peter Smith Hospital where he was treated and released the following day.
Burleson detectives found the abandoned Mazda on fire later that same day.
Police later that same morning received word that a Toyota Tacoma owned by Burleson resident Robin Waddell had driven through the rear parking lot gate of the Joshua Police Department and that a woman was laying near the department’s back door. The woman, Waddell, died from gunshot wounds received as she attempted to exit the Toyota. Subsequent investigation revealed that Elders entered Waddell’s property and forced her to drive him from the scene in her truck.
Elders, after shooting Waddell, fled from the Joshua Police Department in her truck after Waddell intentionally crashed through the police department gates in attempt to escape from Elders.
Gainesville police located and took custody of Elders later that same day. Police recovered a Smith and Wesson .38 Special 5-shot revolver from the front driver’s seat floorboard area of Waddell’s truck after they arrested Elders.
No date has been set for Elders’ trial.
Dean Scott Krokum, Sr. died Mon., Dec. 27. Graveside service: 10:00 A.M. Monday, Jan. 3, 2022, Rosehill Cemetery. Visitation: 6-8:00 P.M., Sunday, Jan.2, Rosser Funeral Home.
Antonino Ponce died Dec. 23, 2021. Service: 10 a.m. Tues., Jan. 4, 2022, The Heights. Interment: Rosehill Cemetery. Visitation: 6-8:00 p.m., Monday, Jan. 3, Rosser Funeral Home.
Peggy Jean Fuller Berry, 69, of Cleburne passed away December 27, 2021 in Fort Worth. Service: 11:00am, Tuesday, January 4, 2022, Crosier-Pearson Cleburne Chapel.
Visitation: 6 – 8 p.m. Thursday, December 30, 2021 at Rosser Funeral Home. Graveside Service: 10 a.m. Friday, December 31, 2021 at Rosehill Cemetery.
Wake: 6 – 8 p.m. Thursday, December 30, 2021 at Rosser Funeral Home. Funeral Service: 1:00 p.m. Friday, December 31, 2021, at The Chosen Vessel Cathedral, 4650 Campus Drive, Fort Worth, Texas 76119. A viewing will be held from 12 Noon until 1 p.m. prior to the service. Burial: Greenlawn Ceme…
