mass shooting

Man accused of killing 6 children and 2 adults in NW Harris Co. still awaits trial 6 years later

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Tuesday, August 10, 2021
David Conley is accused of a horrific murder - six children, one of them as young as 6 years old, shot to death. Six years after the tragedy, Conley has yet to stand trial.
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- An accused killer awaits trial six years after a horrific crime in northwest Harris County.

Deputies said David Conley killed six children, including his own son, as well as their mother Valerie Jackson and her husband Dwayne Jackson. They described the mass killing as pre-planned.
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The deceased children were identified as Nathaniel, 13; Honesty, 11; Dwayne Jr., 10; Caleb, 9; Trinity, 7; and Jonah, 6. The victims were found in each of the three bedrooms inside their house.

Investigators accused Conley of buying a gun and handcuffs before carrying out the horrendous rampage on Aug. 8, 2015. Sources at the time told ABC13 that he entered into the house on Falling Oaks Road through a window. He then handcuffed the family and killed the husband and children one by one before turning the gun on the wife.

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Conley's estranged wife, Vernessa Conley, said she can't believe he still hasn't faced a jury in Harris County. They married in 1986. They separated shortly afterward. Vernessa said David wrote her a love letter from the Harris County Jail, where he remains charged with three capital offenses.
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She said he should face punishment soon.



"I would like for it to be over so the kids can rest. The families can rest. We all can rest," said Vernessa. "Heartbreaking. Very heartbreaking to remember that, to relive that. It's very heartbreaking."

Vernessa said she'll never forget the children lost.

PHOTOS: The victims who died in the Aug. 8, 2015, mass murders
Nathaniel Conley and Honesty Jacksonnone
Dwayne Clifford Jacksonnone
Trinity Jackson and Jonah Jacksonnone
Caleb Jacksonnone
David Conley is charged with three counts of capital murdernone
Dwayne Jackson, 50, was shot and killed over the weekend along with his wife and their children.none
All six children in the home were shot and killed over the weekend.none
Dwayne Jackson, 50, was shot and killed over the weekend along with his wife and their children.none
Friends and neighbors are trying to deal with the murder of 8 people in their communitynone
A make-shift memorial has been set up outside the home where the tragedy took placenone
Friends and neighbors are trying to deal with the murder of 8 people in their communitynone
David Conley, 48, was charged with capital murder in the deaths.none
Valerie Jackson had a previous relationship with the suspect, David Conley, police say.none
David Conley, 49, in an image from April 8, 2013.KTRK
Scenes from outside a home in northwest Harris County, where eight people were found deadnone
Scenes from outside a home in northwest Harris County, where eight people were found deadnone
Scenes from outside a home in northwest Harris County, where eight people were found deadnone
Scenes from outside a home in northwest Harris County, where eight people were found deadnone
A member of the Harris County Sheriff's Department raises the crime scene tape at the scene of the deathsnone
Harris County Sheriff's Department Sgt. D.J. Hilborn, left, escorts a family back to their homenone
Members of the Harris County Sheriff's department work outside the scene of the shooting.none
Harris County Sheriff's Department Sgt. D.J. Hilborn, right, walks away from the scenenone
Eight people were found dead inside a NW Harris Co. home following a SWAT standoffnone
Eight people were found dead inside a NW Harris Co. home following a SWAT standoffnone
Eight people were found dead inside a NW Harris Co. home following a SWAT standoffnone
Eight people were found dead inside a NW Harris Co. home following a SWAT standoffnone
Eight people were found dead inside a NW Harris Co. home following a SWAT standoffnone
Eight people were found dead inside a NW Harris Co. home following a SWAT standoffnone
Eight people were found dead inside a NW Harris Co. home following a SWAT standoffnone

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"He should get punished. I'm sorry to say that," she said. "I am a God-fearing woman. I don't wish bad for anyone, but an eye for an eye."

A gag order prevents the Harris County District Attorney's Office from commenting on the case. Court records show the COVID-19 pandemic delayed a 2020 trial. A trial is now scheduled to begin on Oct. 4.

Court records also revealed David Conley's court-appointed attorney has already spent tens of thousands of dollars preparing his defense. The attorney did not respond to a request for comment from Eyewitness News.

You can follow developments on this unresolved case by following Steve Campion on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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