Charges have been filed against a suspect arrested in the death of a man found at 14711 Carolcrest Drive about 5:20 a.m. on Tuesday (Jan. 25).
The suspect, Ryan Mitchell Smith, 26, is charged with murder and felony evading arrest in the 232nd State District Court. An updated booking photo of Smith is attached to this news release.
The identity of the victim, is pending verification by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.
HPD Homicide Division Officers B. Stephens and Vaughn reported:
Family members reported the victim and another family member (Smith) missing on Monday (Jan. 24). An initial search of the residence at the above address was conducted and nothing was found out of the ordinary or deemed suspicious. Later Monday, Smith was located in a vehicle and fled from officers at a high rate of speed. He eventually got out of the vehicle and ran into a heavily wooded area. He was not located.
Detectives returned to the residence and continued canvassing the house. They then found the body of the man reported missing. The body was concealed from view in the garage. The man was deceased and suffered head trauma.
About 1:50 p.m. on Tuesday, a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper located Smith walking on the side of the road on Highway 159, near Bellville, Texas. He was taken into custody without incident. During interviews with detectives, Smith admitted to his role in the man’s death and was subsequently charged.
Ryan Mitchell Smith
JFC/VHS 1-26-22
Inc #010326122