Authorities Recover Gun Used in 1996 East Texas Cold Case, Suspect Arrested

Arrest made in Hopkins County 1996 murder

HOPKINS COUNTY – After nearly three decades, an arrest has been made in the 1996 murder of Geraldine Blackmon.

Authorities recover gun used in 1996 East Texas cold case, suspect arrested

HOPKINS COUNTY, Texas (KETK) -- Nearly three decades later, an East Texas homicide case has come to a close after a search warrant was executed on Tuesday at the suspect's house, where they located the firearm used in the murder. The Texas Rangers reopened Geraldine Blackmon's 1996 unsolved homicide case with renewed efforts, including interviewing witnesses, conducting extensive forensic analysis and examining new ballistic evidence. East …

Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office makes arrest in 1996 cold case murder of Geraldine Blackmon

A gun barrel recovered from Magness’s residence in 2025 was positively matched to the bullet collected from the 1996 crime scene, providing the crucial link needed to move the case forward.

Arrest made in 1996 East Texas cold case murder

William Doyle Magness, 71, was arrested after ballistic evidence reportedly linked him to the fatal shooting of Geraldine Blackmon nearly 30 years ago.

Man Arrested Nearly 30 Years After 1996 Murder of Geraldine Blackmon in Hopkins County

Nearly 30 years after the murder of Geraldine Blackmon, a major development has brought renewed hope for justice. On Tuesday, July 8, 2025, investigators with the Hopkins County Sheriffandrsquo;s Office, in coordination with the Texas Rangers, arrested 71-year-old William Doyle Magness of Midlothian, Texas. Magness was charged with murder in connection with the 1996 homicide. A search warrant was executed at Magnessandrsquo;s residence, where in…

The Texas ‘suicide’ that was really murder - Cold Case Files: Dead West

The Texas ‘suicide’ that was really murder - Cold Case Files: Dead West crimeinvestiga… 08/07/2025 Image Show Page Link Crime+Investigation Play Video Video Description In the first episode of Cold Case Files: Dead West, we uncover the chilling case of Pamela Shelly, a mother of two found dead in her boyfriend’s trailer in rural Texas in 2001. Despite a suspicious crime scene, conflicting witness statements, and a history of domestic violenc…