Reward increased to find 'extremely dangerous' fugitive accused of killing wife
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- The reward has been increased for any information that will lead police to a man accused of cutting off his ankle monitor and holding a car salesman at knifepoint while out on bond for allegedly murdering his wife.
SEE RELATED STORY: Man out on bond in wife's murder on the run after robbing car salesman at knifepoint
U.S. Marshals are still searching for 48-year-old Trent Vahn Paschal, so on Friday morning, Houston Crime Stoppers announced an $11,000 reward in the case.
"He is and continues to be an extremely dangerous fugitive," said Andy Kahan, the director of victim's services for Crime Stoppers of Houston.
"If you see something, if you know something, please reach out to us," said Chase Hunt, a Galveston County Sheriff's deputy assigned to the U. S. Marshals Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force.
Paschal was out of jail on bond after being charged in Galveston County with the ambush killing of his wife, Savannah Paschal, last October. He is also charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and felon in possession of a weapon. Additionally, he is charged in Harris County with aggravated assault on a peace officer. His bonds totaled $550,000.
"We believe that system needs to be revamped," said Michael Kinchen, Savannah's father, as he stood next to his wife at the news conference. "All I can say is that this has been a nightmare for our family."
The Kinchens are now raising the couple's two young children.
Savannah, 30, was fatally shot in the couple's home in La Marque last year on Oct. 21 while their children were at school. Police said Paschal ran off, but Harris County Sheriff's Office deputies were able to track him down to a Walmart parking lot in north Harris County that night. A deputy shot Paschal because he would not drop his gun as they tried to arrest him, said investigators.
In the weeks that followed, Paschal was hospitalized, recovered and made bond.
Wearing an ankle monitor was a bond condition, but on April 13, investigators believe Paschal left his monitor at home while he robbed a car salesman at knifepoint during a test drive.
Paschal's bonds have been revoked.
U.S. Marshals are distributing "wanted" flyers and asking for the public's help to find him.
"It's best you turn yourself in immediately," said T. Michael O'Connor, U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Texas. "Justice is coming."
Authorities said Paschal is considered armed and dangerous.
Anyone with any information on his whereabouts is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS, local police or Hunt at 409-392-1479.
