Choose your location
ABC13 Houston
Liberty County Sheriff's Office confirms discovery of missing grandmother's remains
In a press conference on Monday afternoon, the Liberty County Sheriff's Office confirmed finding the remains of Sheryl Siddall, a 57-year-old grandmother who went missing in September 2023.According to the sheriff's office, Siddall was last heard from on Sept. 12, and her body was recovered in March 2024. DNA testing was used to identify her remains.After Siddall was reported missing, a Liberty County Sheriff's Office deputy went to check on her home and found a man named Donald Lee Hassler living in the house.READ MORE: Missing grandmother's family fights to get Liberty Co. home back from her suspected killerDeputies also reported finding firearms, a bloody knife, human bloodstains, and drag marks from the back of Sidall's home to the water.READ MORE: Liberty County deputies searching for missing woman after blood evidence found in her homeIn October 2023, Hassler was charged with capital murder in connection to Siddall's disappearance.Authorities have not revealed how she died.
Harris County receives nearly 200 price gouging complaints after Hurricane Beryl disaster
Power isn't the only concern for some local leaders. They're also worried about businesses taking advantage of the Hurricane Beryl disaster.If you're shopping right now, officials want you to keep an eye on how much you're paying."We're talking food, gasoline, water, lodging, and (if) you notice prices are substantially higher than they have been in the past, you should absolutely report that to the county attorney's office," Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee said.The Houston area is under a disaster declaration a week after Hurricane Beryl came through. Because of this, businesses aren't allowed to take advantage of the situation.If they...
All but about 130K Beryl-impacted CenterPoint power customers restored a week after storm
After beginning Monday with about 240,000 outages, CenterPoint Energy had yet to restore about 132,000 customers during the evening.The company also gave an update on when all impacted customers would have their lights back on after Hurricane Beryl: Friday, July 19, some 11 days after the Category 1 storm made landfall.As of 8:30 p.m. Monday, 92% of impacted customers were restored. About 98% should be restored by the end of Wednesday, CenterPoint added.The company also cautioned about damage to customer-owned, specifically weatherheads, the point where power enters the home through an electric service drop, which is often a pipe located...
Investigation underway into CenterPoint Energy's response to Beryl: 'The clock is ticking'
The Public Utility Commission is investigating CenterPoint Energy's response to Hurricane Beryl, as fewer than 200,000 customers remain in the dark.CenterPoint said it expects to have 90% of customers back online on Monday, a week after Beryl made landfall.Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Mayor John Whitmire toured the resource staging area for first responders at NRG Stadium on Monday amid growing pressure to restore power to thousands of Houstonians after Beryl.PUC Chairman Thomas Gleeson, part of the touring party, said the informal investigation process into the power company had already been underway. He announced the formal process set for the...
Funeral services set for HCSO deputy shot and killed in ambush in NE Harris County neighborhood
The funeral arrangements for Harris County Sheriff's Office Deputy Fernando Esqueda, who was shot to death in an ambush last week, have been released.The public is invited to attend the services.A viewing will be held Thursday, July 18 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church on 2405 Navigation Blvd. A rosary is set for 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. That will be followed by a funeral mass on Friday, July 19 at 10 a.m. at Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, located at 1111 St. Joseph Pkwy.Details of @HCSOTexas Deputy Fernando Esqueda’s public funeral services. A...
Prosecutors say 2nd suspect in Harris County deputy's murder confessed to helping rid of guns
The subject of a manhunt last week in the death of a Harris County deputy will remain in jail without bond.Ronald Ronnie Palmer Jr., 44, is charged with capital murder for the death of Deputy Fernando Esqueda and two counts of aggravated assault for an incident earlier that night.Monday during his first court appearance in the 248th District Court, the judge declined to set bond in his capital murder case.The district attorney's office filed a motion to hold him in jail until trial. That will be decided after a proof-evident hearing in September.During his court hearing, prosecutors indicated that they...
Harris County leaders condemn violence against utility workers during post-Beryl restoration efforts
There has been a call for civility from Harris County leaders as more electric utility workers report feeling unsafe on the job.In a media briefing held by Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia on Sunday, law enforcement said violence against CenterPoint workers is only going to slow down restoration efforts."Please, God...stop harassing these people," Ed Allen with IBEW Local 66 said.Allen's job is to advocate for the men and women working in the field to get the power back on.Almost a week since Beryl hit, hundreds of thousands of households are waiting to see a utility truck in their...
Ken Hoffman, popular CultureMap Houston columnist, dies at lake house on Lake Conroe
Longtime Houston writer Ken Hoffman died on Sunday.The popular columnist and author wrote for the Houston Post and Houston Chronicle before taking his talents to the website CultureMap.Hoffman wrote with insight and humor about the city's media, its food, and his love of music and sports.He had a unique voice that drew generations of Houstonians to whichever publication was lucky to have him among its staff.According to CultureMap, where Hoffman posted his last column just this past week, he died suddenly at his lake house on Lake Conroe Sunday.Houston CultureMap is one of ABC13's partners.For updates on this story, follow Tom Abrahams on Facebook, X and Instagram.
This Week in Texas: Lasting effects of Hurricane Beryl on statewide infrastructure and politics
On an all-new episode of This Week in Texas, the state is recovering from the lasting impact of Hurricane Beryl.The dangerous storm surge pummeled the coast, while winds and rain paralyzed the grid, dunking millions into the dark without power for days.ABC13 looks at the physical damage, lingering disruptions, and political fallout.Plus, a discussion about the future of storms and how to deal with them with Chief Meteorologist Travis Herzog.Then, we look at a new effort to better compensate those caring for the developmentally disabled.Stay on the pulse of Texas politics! Follow Tom Abrahams on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
HPD investigating after man's body found in storage building in Midtown
Authorities are investigating a man's death after his body was found inside a storage building in Midtown Saturday night.Houston Police Department officers responded to the scene after 7 p.m. in the 2200 block of Milam.Police initially believed that it was a natural death and that he appeared to be a homeless man.Investigators discovered signs of some trauma consistent with the man having been subjected to some type of force.
13 Investigates delves into how FBI is 'constantly intercepting threats' against elected officials
The FBI has been warning for years that we're in an era of heightened threats against our elected officials.The FBI Houston Field Office tells 13 Investigates the agency as a whole is "constantly intercepting threats" against candidates and politicians already in power."Unfortunately, these threats against elected officials is not uncommon," FBI Houston Spokesperson Christina Garza said.Just last month, 24-year-old Isaac Ambe Nformangum of Richmond was convicted for threatening Republican Texas Senator Ted Cruz.Federal prosecutors say he called the Senator's Houston office and left a voicemail in which he said, "You will be found and killed."Also last month, 61-year-old Brian Michael...
Suspect identified and charged after allegedly threatening electric utility worker at gunpoint
Charges have been filed against the man who allegedly pointed a gun at an electric utility worker in southwest Houston on Saturday morning.The suspect, identified as 38-year-old Anthony Aloric Leonard, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, Houston police said.The incident occurred at about 8:40 a.m. in the 1900 block of Wilcrest Drive.According to CenterPoint Energy CEO Jason Wells, over 100 line workers working on power restoration had to be evacuated from the scene.READ RELATED: CenterPoint CEO addresses employees' safety after man points gun at line worker in SW HoustonLeonard allegedly fled the scene on foot, but police were able to quickly apprehend him.
2nd suspect charged with murder in connection with HCSO deputy's death, sheriff says
A second suspect has been arrested and charged for his alleged role in the shooting death of a Harris County Sheriff's deputy, according to Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.On Sunday, Gonzalez shared that Dremone Francis was charged with capital murder in connection with the shooting death of Deputy Fernando Esqueda.ORIGINAL REPORT: Suspect arrested, charged with capital murder, in ambush murder of Harris Co. sheriff's deputyFrancis' arrest comes days after 44-year-old Ronald "Ronnie" Palmer Jr. was arrested in the case.On Wednesday, July 10, officers responded to an aggravated assault call at a Little Ceasars Pizza on Wallisville Road. According to police, the suspect,...
Gov. Abbott expected to appear in Houston to speak on post-Beryl recovery, CenterPoint woes
Gov. Greg Abbott is expected to hold his first press conference since Hurricane Beryl's landfall at Gallery Furniture in northwest Houston on Sunday afternoon.Sunday's briefing will be held at Gallery Furniture in northwest Houston on Sunday afternoon.The Texas governor had been traveling out of the country for an overseas trade mission in Asia.You can watch Gov. Abbott's press conference in the video player above at noon on Sunday. Details about what would be addressed in the press conference are still unclear. However, one point of contention among the community and elected officials is accountability regarding CenterPoint's preparation and response to...
CenterPoint CEO addresses employees' safety after man points gun at line worker in SW Houston
CenterPoint Energy CEO Jason Wells highlighted his employees' safety after a man opened fire at a line worker in southwest Houston on Saturday.Threats continue to be made against our crews and employees, which are counterproductive and only hinder our restoration efforts. Our CEO Jason Wells stresses the importance of keeping our crews safe to keep up our restoration pace. https://t.co/u86fz3FYPG— CenterPoint Energy (@CenterPoint) July 13, 2024 "We had to evacuate over 100 line workers this morning that were working restoration due to shots that were fired at our crews," Wells said in a video response posted on YouTube to the crime...
89-year-old woman unconscious for days due to heat in northeast Houston, family says
Relatives of an 89-year-old northeast Houston woman say she passed out from heat exhaustion days after losing electricity."My momma got so overheated, her body shut down and she has not waken up yet," Monica Shaw said.That was on Wednesday. Shaw said she called in a nurse and bought two generators to get the air conditioning running, but that hasn't been enough to revive her mother.She has dementia and congenital heart failure, which Shaw said puts her at even higher risk than most."Touch her body, she's hot. Checked her temperature, it was 101," Shaw said.Around the corner in their neighborhood near...
Video shows the moment a piece of metal crashed through driver's windshield on Eastex Freeway
An alarming video shows a piece of metal crash through a man's windshield while driving on US-59.While driving to work, Mike Tempel saw a piece of debris caving into his windshield. Despite the scary moment, Tempel handled the situation calmly as broken pieces of glass were spread throughout his truck.Moments after the incident, he pulled over and got his vehicle towed."She was very thankful that I was OK," Tempel said after showing his wife the video.He said he kept the metal object, which was an 18-inch clamp tool.Tempel is OK after having particles of glass in his hair and suffering some cuts into his fingers.He also awaits the repair of his truck.
Fort Bend County added to FEMA's disaster declaration for Hurricane Beryl aid
Fort Bend County was approved on Saturday after filing for Texas' federal disaster declaration in the wake of Hurricane Beryl's aftermath.The county filed its disaster declaration on Monday and was subsequently approved to receive federal funding under President Biden's disaster declaration on Tuesday.Hurricane Beryl caused damage to Fort Bend County exceeding $20 million."Our team has been working with state, federal, and local agencies to make sure that we are addressing this catastrophe the right way," Fort Bend County Judge KP George said. "Our goal is to simply make sure that our citizens are taken care of, which is why I signed the Disaster Declaration on July 9 without hesitation."On Friday, 15 Texas counties, including Brazoria, Chambers, Galveston, Harris, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Orange, Polk, San Jacinto, Walker, and Wharton counties, were approved for federal aid.SEE ALSO: Residents of 15 southeast Texas counties can now apply for federal Beryl aid
Fight in powerless Humble neighborhood leads to man fatally shooting roommate, HCSO says
A fatal shooting investigation got underway in Humble on Friday evening after a man gunned down his roommate following an altercatiton, according to officials.The incident happened in the 9000 block of Tracelawn Court near Wilson and the Sam Houston Tollway, where officials said the power has yet to be turned on.When law enforcement arrived, a man, described as a man in his 50s, was found shot.Officials said the victim and a couple, a man and a woman, resided in a home.According to investigators, it appeared the two men were outside drinking before getting into a physical altercation before the homeowner pulled out a pistol and shot the victim.Officials said the homeowner is cooperating with police.Police did not elaborate on if charges were being filed or if the homeowner was taken into custody.Sheriff Ed Gonzalez was on scene and said that he wants to remind the public to be patient with one another as the area has experienced storms and is still dealing with loss of power.
ABC13 Houston
28K+
Posts
825M+
Views
ABC13 Eyewitness News brings you breaking news, weather, exclusives and original programs from Houston.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.