SHELBY COUNTY, Texas — Court records say a man allegedly killed a woman as a “satanic sacrifice,” in Joaquin, Texas. Two other people were arrested in connection.
Shelby County Sheriff Kevin W. Windham said in a news release that Ethan Myers, 26, was arrested in connection with a homicide investigation.
Windham said on Sunday that at around 4 p.m., deputies were called out to a house in Joaquin to conduct a welfare check. When they arrived at the house, deputies went inside and found the body of Sarah Hopson, 36.
According to KLTV, a search began immediately for a man who left the property. He was later identified as Myers.
According to KTRE, the welfare check was done after two people, Allen Price and Teresa Louviere, went to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office claiming that something happened to Hopson and Myers was responsible. They said that Hopson and Myers stayed with them overnight at a house on County Road 3635 and Myers was acting strange the next morning. They told deputies that they hadn’t seen Hopson since the night before. According to KTRE, Price and Louviere said they saw Myers leave and he allegedly appeared to have blood on him.
According to court records obtained by KTRE, deputies saw a deceased body wrapped in a carpet in a bedroom. Investigators said that the door appeared to just have been painted with multiple cans of paint and brushes in the room, along with a bag of cleaning supplies. Another investigation said they saw paint on Price’s pant leg. According to the court records obtained by KTRE, this information led investigators to suspect that there was an attempt made to conceal evidence.
According to KLTV, both Price and Louviere were arrested in connection with this incident. Both have been charged with tampering with evidence.
Price and Louviere are being held on a $250,000 bond each, according to KTRE.
According to KTRE, Price and Louviere allegedly told investigators, according to court records, that Myers had been participating in cult activity.
According to court records obtained by KTRE, Myers’ mother arrived at SCSO and allegedly said that she had recently spoken with him, telling her that he was hiding in the woods. He also allegedly told her that Hopson “wanted him to sacrifice her.” The court records state that Myers’ mother said her son “hears voices and is satanic.”
According to KTRE, investigators said that Hopson had large wounds to the side of her head and forehead. Parts of her body were dismembered. Investigators searched Myers’ car and reportedly found a shovel and a rock that matched the wounds on Hopson’s head.
Myers was arrested and charged with murder and evading arrest. According to KTRE, he is being held on a $1.25 million total bond.
No further information has been released. The investigation is ongoing.