Authorities say there are 'other active leads' in 'Texas Killing Fields' case after suspect indicted
GALVESTON COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- Following the arrest and charges against 61-year-old James Elmore Jr. in the decades-long cold case known as "Texas Killings Fields," authorities in Galveston County said there could be more arrests.
On Wednesday, Galveston County District Attorney Kenneth Cusick held a press conference to formally announce the update in the case. Authorities said Elmore was arrested on Tuesday after a reexamination of the case led them to him. He was charged with manslaughter and tampering with evidence in connection with the 1984 murder of Laura Miller, as well as tampering in the 1986 killing of Audrey Cook.
The DA said, through a multi-agency investigation, including re-interviewing witnesses, the DA's office decided to seek grand jury indictments against Clyde Hedrick for the deaths of Miller, Cook, Heidi Fye-Villareal, and Donna Prudhomme -- whose bodies were also found.
"The indictments follow a renewed effort by the Galveston County District Attorney's Office and local law enforcement agencies to bring to justice the murderers responsible for the deaths of approximately 30 women whose bodies were found in an area commonly referred to as the 'Texas Killing Fields,'" the sheriff's office wrote in a release on Tuesday.
SEE ALSO: Galveston County DA says man indicted for alleged role in 'Texas Killing Fields' case
The DA's office also sought an indictment against Elmore for his alleged role in the deaths of Cook and Miller. According to the indictment, Elmore prepared a "vial of cocaine" for Hedrick to give to Laura.
However, authorities said Hedrick died by suicide in March 2026, shortly before a grand jury presentation. Evidence was still shown that would later lead to Elmore's indictment.
Despite the arrest, the DA's office said they are investigating other active leads in the case.
"This is not over just because Mr. Hedricks is dead. Mr. Elmore has been charged and is facing those charges. There are other active leads in the case; therefore, we're not going to elaborate on a bunch of detailed questions, because there are some active leads in this investigation that can still be pursued to bring to justice some people who may have escaped justice thus far," Cusick said during Tuesday's press conference.
The DA's office also said that the tampering charge stems from allegations that Elmore participated in the disposition of the victim's bodies.
Following that press conference, Tim Miller, founder of Texas EquuSearch, whose daughter Laura was among the slain victims, said he spoke with Elmore more than thirty times before his arrest.
"When I built that cross out there where Laura's body was found and I'd walk up to it, years and years ago, I'd say, 'Laura, please don't hate your daddy, but I can't come out here anymore,' I'd be walking away and hear that little voice say, 'Dad don't quit, please don't quit,' and I didn't know what it meant. I think I do now," Miller said.
Miller said he'll continue to push for a bigger investigation.
"Just because there's an arrest and everything, don't think Tim Miller is going to walk away from Texas EquuSearch and quit helping families. No, I think we're just getting started again," he said. "So, you know, again, I don't want to say anything about this investigation after 41 and a half damn years, I'm not going to jeopardize anything that all of us have worked for out there. We got other girls to find, we got closure to bring more families."
