• Home
  • About
    • Authors
  • Articles
    • Archives
    • Chaplain
    • Crime & Controversy
    • Community
    • Cop Humor
    • Editorial
    • Op-ed
    • Gear & Technology
    • Investigations
    • Laws & Legal
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Officer Down
    • On Duty
    • Tactics
  • Network
    • Illinois Network
    • Minneapolis Network
    • Tulsa Network
    • Wauwatosa Network
    • Learn more
  • Training
  • Jobs
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Law Officer
Law Officer
No Result
View All Result

Harris County sees 156 victims killed by suspects out on bonds

Crime Stoppers of Houston says 113 defendants charged with capital murder have been granted bond

Harris County

Crime Stoppers of Houston said 156 people have been killed since 2018 by defendants released on multiple bonds in Harris County. (Crime Stoppers of Houston)

January 4, 2022
Law OfficerbyLaw Officer
Share and speak up for justice, law & order...

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — Criminal defendants released on multiple felony bonds in Harris County — the most populous county in Texas — have killed 156 people since 2018, according to a victims advocate group. They’ve been outspoken critics of bail reform efforts that have seen terrorizing criminals released back onto the streets only to violently re-offend.

Houston, the largest city in the state, is part of Harris County. According to Rania Mankarious, CEO of Crime Stoppers of Houston, there are 113 defendants charged with capital murder that have been granted bond. The group has been tracking statistics in the quagmire change of bond policies, Fox News reported.

The public safety organization tracks cases involving defendants out on multiple felony bonds, including bond forfeiture and bonds for arrestees released on their own personal recognizance (PR), which do not require cash.

This has been part and parcel of the bail reform that advocates have sought, yet the devastating results cannot be ignored.

“We were seeing really violent, violent habitual offenders being released on either no bond or ridiculously low bonds, and we said, ‘This is going to wreak havoc,’” Mankarious said. “It’s the epicenter for bail reform run amok.”

The major shift in Harris County’s bail practices are due to a settlement from a lawsuit. Hence, they stopped requiring most people accused of misdemeanor crimes from having to put up cash or large sums to get out of jail. However, some judges have applied the policies to violent felony cases, said Mankarious, Fox reported.

The egregious results are undeniable as the bodies of murder victims are stacking up.

One case involves Rosalie Cook, 80, a grandmother of six. She died in 2020 when she was stabbed in a Walgreens parking lot after purchasing a greeting card. The suspect in her death, Randy Lewis, 38, was shot and killed by police, Law Officer reported at the time.

The woman who was previously widowed was described as the “perfect grandmother.”

Harris CountyRosalie Cook, left, was reportedly murdered by Randy Lewis who was fatally shot by police. (Houston Police Department) 

A responding officer arrived shortly after the stabbing and ordered Lewis out of Cook’s car. When Lewis attempted to rush the officer with the knife, he was shot twice, fatally.

Jail had been a revolving door for Lewis as he had been arrested 67 times and was out on two PR bonds at the time of the murder.

Randy Lewis should never have been free. Now an innocent woman has been murdered. Everyone deserves better. This is absolutely shameful. https://t.co/hfJ4dqfYxG pic.twitter.com/tqIr9Qlmln

— Houston Police Officers' Union (@HPOUTX) May 18, 2020

“Randy Lewis should never have been free. Now an innocent woman has been murdered. Everyone deserves better. This is absolutely shameful,” the Houston Police Officers’ Union tweeted at the time.

Another appalling case involves Andrew Williams. He was in custody for a 2019 capitol murder charge in Harris County, yet released from custody on bond. Now he is accused of murdering Martha Medina, 71, on Sept. 23, 2021, during a robbery outside a McDonald’s in Houston. Williams allegedly stole Medina’s purse and struck her with his car fleeing the scene.

“If one capital murder case isn’t enough to keep somebody behind bars, then what is?” Medina’s son, Adrian Medina, told Fox News. “You left a wolf back out and a wolf is going to do what a wolf does and that’s not OK.”

Martha Medina, 71, was killed when a suspect released on multiple bonds in Harris County, Texas, allegedly robbed her and struck her with his vehicle. 
Martha Medina, 71, was killed when a suspect released on multiple bonds in Harris County, Texas, allegedly robbed her and struck her with his vehicle. (Adrian Medina via Fox News)

Houston homicides increased 20 percent in 2021. The city finished the year with 473 killings.

In an effort to combat the lunacy, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed legislation in September that requires those accused of violent crimes to put up cash in order to get a PR bond, effectively getting rid of cashless release.

Harris County Criminal Justice Center
(Harris County Criminal Justice Center)

“Some see criminal justice reform as simply everybody’s innocent until proven guilty and therefore no one should be held,” Mankarious added. “We just want the nonsense to end and us to restore some type of criminal justice that makes sense and puts the victim first and the community first.”


Share and speak up for justice, law & order...
Continue Reading
Tags: cashless bondGov. Greg AbbottHarris Countymust-readpersonal recognizanceRania MankariousTexas
Law Officer

Law Officer

Law Officer is the only major law enforcement publication and website owned and operated by law enforcement—for law enforcement and supporters of justice, law, and order. This unique facet makes Law Officer much more than just a publishing company, but a true advocate for the law enforcement profession.

Related Posts

Alec Baldwin

FBI report confirms Alec Baldwin fired gun in ‘Rust’ set shooting

August 14, 2022
Edward Leclair

Pedophile dies after chugging mysterious liquid when guilty verdict is read in court

August 13, 2022
Gerardo Magallanes

Police arrest third suspect in murder of off-duty California officer

August 13, 2022
LASD deputy

George Gascon’s lackey loses case against deputies during preliminary hearing

August 12, 2022
NASCAR

NASCAR goes woke, stops race team from honoring police

August 12, 2022
Ned Byrd

North Carolina deputy shot and killed

August 12, 2022
Load More

Latest Articles

Florida man

Car engulfs in flames after crashing into barricade near U.S. Capitol, driver fires gunshots into air before fatally shooting himself

August 14, 2022
Alec Baldwin

FBI report confirms Alec Baldwin fired gun in ‘Rust’ set shooting

August 14, 2022
TV sets

Crime riddled city reassigns officers to protect TV production sets

August 13, 2022
Edward Leclair

Pedophile dies after chugging mysterious liquid when guilty verdict is read in court

August 13, 2022
NARCAN

South Carolina sheriff’s office installs Narcan vending machine in detention center

August 13, 2022
Gerardo Magallanes

Police arrest third suspect in murder of off-duty California officer

August 13, 2022
Load More

Weekly E-Newsletter

Subscribe—and get the latest news and editorials direct from Law Officer each week!

[newsletter_form type="minimal"]

MUST READ

Alec Baldwin

FBI report confirms Alec Baldwin fired gun in ‘Rust’ set shooting

August 14, 2022
Gerardo Magallanes

Police arrest third suspect in murder of off-duty California officer

August 13, 2022
LASD deputy

George Gascon’s lackey loses case against deputies during preliminary hearing

August 12, 2022
NASCAR

NASCAR goes woke, stops race team from honoring police

August 12, 2022
Ned Byrd

North Carolina deputy shot and killed

August 12, 2022
Load More

JOIN THE FIGHT

SAFEGUARD RECRUITING

Police Officers Needed – Entry level and lateral applicants wanted!

February 14, 2022

Deputy Sheriff

February 3, 2022

Dispatcher

January 25, 2022

Deputy Sheriff (POST Certified)

January 25, 2022

BE COURAGEOUS

FIND MORE…

Law Officer

© 2021 LawOfficer.com

LawOfficer.com

  • Home
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Corrections
  • Contact

Speak up for justice, law & order

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About
    • Authors
  • Articles
    • Archives
    • Chaplain
    • Crime & Controversy
    • Community
    • Cop Humor
    • Editorial
    • Op-ed
    • Gear & Technology
    • Investigations
    • Laws & Legal
    • Leadership
    • News
    • Officer Down
    • On Duty
    • Tactics
  • Network
    • Illinois Network
    • Minneapolis Network
    • Tulsa Network
    • Wauwatosa Network
    • Learn more
  • Training
  • Jobs
  • Contact

© 2021 LawOfficer.com