Sheriff: No connection between missing persons, found bodies
The bodies of two of four people reported missing in Bandera County since April have been located and one death is under investigation as a possible homicide, but investigators say none of the incidents appear related.
“These are separate incidents, and we have no reason to believe they are connected at all,” said Bandera County Chief Deputy Matt King.
The slate of disappearances — which include three women — since this spring have put the community on edge, and the two bodies that were located, including a case authorities classified as a suicide, have not calmed apprehensions for many residents.
The incidents include:
Brittany McMahon
The body of Brittany McMahon, 33, was found in the Bandera Pass subdivision on July 3. A Sheriff’s Department investigation was presented by the 198th District Attorney’s Office to a grand jury Aug. 9 in Kerrville, and the jury agreed with investigators no evidence of a crime existed.
The case is now closed pending any new information. King said claims of McMahon’s body being upside down are unfounded.
The case report presented to the grand jury said a tree branch at the site had been used to step higher into tree for hanging. The body was discovered at the foot of the tree, had evidence of rope around the neck area and had been visited by animals.
Law officers had contact with McMahon several days earlier while she was still alive.
A video in the report from a deputy interacting with Mc-Mahon on June 18 shows the woman with a suitcase and a rope sticking out the side of the suitcase.
Investigator Gerald Johnson said in the report the rope and the clothes McMahon wore in the video appear to match what was recovered with her remains.
Sean Duffy
The burnt remains of Sean Duffy, 56, were found near Red Bluff Ranch Road on Aug. 17 He’d been reported missing on July 16, according to King.
Duffy lived in the 100 block of Cypress Bluff in Pipe Creek. King said the body was wrapped in materials matching those found at Duffy’s residence. He added the remnants were burned at a different location and dumped on Red Bluff Ranch Road. “The area has been busy lately because of highway construction. We don’t think his body was there very long at all,” said King. King said investigators had gone to the Cypress Bluff residence several times but initially did not notice any signs of a struggle.
However, later investigations with special light revealed blood splatter.
A homicide investigation has been opened. A cause of death has not been released yet.
Jordan Tompkins
The Sheriff’s Department is looking for any leads regarding the disappearance of Jordan Tompkins, 25, who was last seen walking alone on PR 37 on April 22. Tompkins is 5-feet-3-inches tall and weighs 130 pounds. She has brown eyes, short dark-blonde hair and tattoos. Her disappearance is unrelated to McMahon’s, King said. A search party has been organized to look for the missing woman, with volunteers asked to meet at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the American Legion Post 410 in Lakehills. For more information,
call 830-900-3380.
Norma Espinoza
Authorities continue to look for 63-year-old Norma Espinoza, reported missing by her daughter on Aug. 12. Espinoza, who was last seen in her home on Broad Oak Drive, is 5-feet 8-inches tall and weighs 145 pounds. She has brown eyes and dark hair.
Anyone with leads in any of the cases is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 830-796-3771.