A labradoodle dog who refused to abandon his owner’s burned body after she was brutally murdered proved to be the missing piece of the puzzle, leading investigators to both her remains and her attacker.
The devoted pet was discovered barking hysterically at the location of a woman’s remains in a field in Robinson, Texas, on April 5, 2023, according to the McLennan County District Attorney’s Office.
Derek Daigneault, 29, was sentenced to life in prison Thursday for the murder of his cousin, Mandy Rose Reynolds, 26, of San Marcos, Texas, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Robinson cops responded to cries of a “brush fire” on Heston Circle in April 2023 and discovered a body “burned beyond recognition,” but it was recognized as Reynolds using dental records, according to the McLennan County District Attorney’s Office.
Titan, a little fluffy labradoodle, stood proudly watch over her body, frantically barking at cops and refusing to leave the scene or be corralled.
Titan remained at the same location where Reynolds’ burned body had been found the next morning, prompting a resident to contact Robinson Animal Control.
Authorities subsequently discovered Titan’s microchip, allowing them to identify Reynolds as Titan’s owner. Police discovered Reynolds’ possessions had been looted, and her black Honda Accord had gone removed, according to MCDAO.
Authorities were only able to locate the missing car near Wichita, Texas, after checking the Honda’s license plate. Three days after Reynold’s burnt body was discovered, the Wichita Police Department attempted to pull her car over. However, the driver sped away, resulting in a nearly 30-minute chase at 100 mph, according to authorities.
The furious pursuit ended when the driver collided with another vehicle and fled inside a neighboring grocery shop, where he “hid on a shelf behind canned goods” until police arrested him.
The driver was identified as Reynold’s cousin, Derek Daigneault.
During the inquiry, Wichita Police discovered a.380 handgun under the floorboard of Reynold’s car’s driver’s seat. San Marcos Police also received Walmart security film, which showed Daigneault purchasing a plastic container, a shovel, and a gas canister.
At the scene, investigators discovered that the woman’s body had been burned inside a huge plastic storage container similar to the one purchased at Walmart, as well as a shell casing.
According to the news statement, 380 firearms were incinerated within the same container. All of the woman’s things were discovered in an abandoned vehicle on April 7, 2023, just a few kilometers from her home.
After Daigneault was sentenced to life in prison, mayhem ensued in the courtroom as the defendant called out to accuse the victim’s brother of a crime, while Reynold’s family delivered victim impact statements, according to KWTX.
A brawl broke out between the victims’ families on one side of the room, while Daigneault’s brother-in-law, mother, and sister retaliated on the other – police eventually got a hold on the situation and brought Daigneault to prison, KWTX reported.
Assistant District Attorneys Ryan Calvert and Alyssa Killin stated, “The keys to this case were a heroic and faithful canine named Titan and unprecedented cooperation among law enforcement agencies in numerous jurisdictions and states.
That combination has resulted in Mandy’s justice and freedom from a violent and deadly felon.
Reference: Woman was burned to death in Texas and a loyal labradoodle helped police identify her killer