Tragedy struck in Rusk County, Texas, as a 27-year-old teaching assistant, Christina Glenn, was found dead in her crashed vehicle. While initially appearing as a car accident, authorities quickly determined the cause of death to be a gunshot wound, indicating a potential murder.
The incident occurred on March 3rd, with first responders discovering Glenn’s body at the scene. The location of the crash, Rusk County, is situated about two hours east of Dallas.
33-year-old Justin Roy Edwards has been arrested and charged with her murder. While some reports suggest a romantic relationship between the two, this has yet to be officially confirmed by investigators.
Retired FBI agent Colin Schmidt, offering his expert opinion, suggests that the crime may have been a crime of passion.
“Well, it seems like it may have been a crime of passion that…appears that she was driving the car and the boyfriend and her may have gotten in an argument and then it just went downhill from there.”
Schmidt goes on to explain the reasoning behind his theory.
“And it appears that that’s uh what he did, is he he shot and killed her, and because they found her in the um the driver’s seat, and then it appears that I think he probably panicked instead of trying to uh dispose of the body because there was no thought before, and before he did the crime that he probably just jumped out of the car freaked out and then just uh you know ran away and then law enforcement did their job and found him.”
The Rusk County Sheriff’s Office released a statement indicating that the evidence discovered during the preliminary investigation pointed to murder. However, Schmidt raises the valid question about how investigators immediately ruled out possibilities like suicide or an accidental firearm discharge.
According to Schmidt, the position of the body and the lack of a firearm or a suicide note near the deceased point toward the involvement of a third party. He adds that, typically, suicides involving firearms don’t occur in moving vehicles. Instead, they are usually premeditated and occur in controlled environments like hotel rooms or the victim’s home.
Further solidifying the murder theory, Schmidt explains that the physical condition of the corpse, with a gunshot wound to the side of the head, strongly suggests murder.
Furthermore, investigators likely analyzed the crash itself as part of their investigation. Aspects like airbag deployment, damage to the vehicle’s front, bloodstains or injuries on the passenger side, and data from the onboard computer could provide crucial insights into the sequence of events leading to Glenn’s demise.
Given the circumstances, domestic violence is being considered a possible factor. Schmidt highlights the likelihood of a history of violence, either emotional or physical, in such cases. He suggests that investigators will be examining text messages, social media interactions, and phone records between Glenn and Edwards to uncover any potential threats or abusive behavior.
Despite being involved with a boxing gym, Schmidt believes that Edwards’ pastime is unlikely to be connected to the potential domestic violence claims. He emphasizes that domestic violence is a grave issue and that any correlation would likely stem from the history of violence rather than a hobby.
Currently, Edwards is being held on a $1 million bond, a figure indicative of the gravity of the crime and the authorities’ intent to prevent him from being released. Schmidt explains that such a high bond amount is a strategic move to ensure that the suspect remains in custody, as it’s highly improbable for him to post bail.
Adding a perplexing layer to the case, it has come to light that Glenn’s 16-year-old sister, Nita Helen, had gone missing just weeks before the murder. Christina had posted on Facebook about Nita running away after a disagreement, mentioning that she had cut off all communication.
While Nita has since been found and reunited with her family, the circumstances surrounding her disappearance remain under investigation. The Brennan Police Department, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation, has refrained from disclosing further details.
Although it’s yet to be determined if there’s any connection between Nita’s disappearance and Christina’s murder, authorities are investigating all possibilities.
The investigation into Christina Glenn’s murder continues as authorities endeavor to gather all the facts and establish a solid case for trial. They are meticulously examining communication records, interviewing witnesses, and analyzing any potential evidence that could shed light on the motive behind this tragic incident.
