Arrest In Dallas Gay Killing

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Arrest In Dallas Gay Killing

by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

Posted: December 21, 2005 1:00 pm ET

(Dallas, Texas) Dallas police have charged a man with the killing of a gay man on October 11 - one of seven unsolved gay killings in the Dallas area.

Ray Martinez, 31, was charged with the capital murder in the beating death of Craig Ceson, 46. Ceson's body was found in his apartment near Love Field. An autopsy showed he died from head injuries.

There was no sign of a break-in and police said that Ceason's car had been stolen. The vehicle was later found in Fort Worth.

At the time Martinez was charged he was already in jail on theft charges.

Police say at this point there is nothing to indicate Martinez is connected to any of the other six gay homicides over the past five years, but investigators are continuing to probe the possibility.

The possibility of a link was first suggested by the LGBT newspaper The Dallas Voice and Dallas City Council member Ed Oakley.

The most recent victim was Samuel Jarnigan Lea, 28, a University of Texas at Arlington student.

His body was discovered Oct. 31 inside his apartment near the campus. Police say that it appears he knew his killer and invited him to his apartment, but there are few clues in the case and Lea's car is missing.

Police believe they may have a suspect in Lea's killing but no hard evidence. He also may be involved in at least one of the other killings, that of Lawrence Wheat, who served on the Dallas Plan Commission. Wheat was found dead in his Dallas loft in June, 2004.

The suspect is described as a hustler with a drug habit and a violent past.

The victims in the other unsolved murders are: James Stephen Watts, 64; Agustin Fernandez Jr., 44; Bobby Dalton Berry, 63; and Keith Alexander Calloway, 33.

©365Gay.com 2005

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Second Arrest In Dallas Gay Slaying

by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

Posted: December 22, 2005 1:00 pm ET

(Albuquerque, New Mexico) A second man has been charged with capital murder in the killing of a Dallas gay man on October 11 - one of string of gay murders that have brought fear and anger to the area's LGBT community.

David Valdez, 24, was arrested Wednesday by the US Marshall at a probation and parole office in Albuquerque’s Northeast Heights. He’s accused of Craig Ceson, 46, whose body was found in his Dallas apartment. An autopsy showed he died from head injuries.

Valdez was arrested a day after Dallas police charged Ray Martinez, 31, in connection with the same killing. (story) Dallas police will not say how the two suspects are connected or how they met Ceson.

Investigators say there was no sign of a break-in at Ceson's apartment and believe he invited his assailants into his home. Ceason's car had been stolen. The vehicle was later found in Fort Worth.

Valdez has a history of drug charges, burglary and assault.

Homicide detectives are en route to Albuquerque where Valdez will have an extradition hearing.

If convicted he and Martinez would face the death penalty.

Police say there is nothing to connect the pair to the killings of at least six other gay men in the Dallas area over the past six years, but add they are continuing to investigate.

The most recent victim was Samuel Jarnigan Lea, 28, a University of Texas at Arlington student.

His body was discovered Oct. 31 inside his apartment near the campus. Police say that it appears he knew his killer and invited him to his apartment, but there are few clues in the case and Lea's car is missing.

Police believe they may have a suspect in Lea's killing but no hard evidence. He also may be involved in at least one of the other killings, that of Lawrence Wheat, who served on the Dallas Planning Commission. Wheat was found dead in his Dallas loft in June, 2004.

The suspect is described as a hustler with a drug habit and a violent past.

The victims in the other unsolved murders are: James Stephen Watts, 64; Agustin Fernandez Jr., 44; Bobby Dalton Berry, 63; and Keith Alexander Calloway, 33.

©365Gay.com 2005

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