Murder Investigation in Alvarado
Introduction to the Case
The husband of a 33-year-old woman who police said died from blunt force trauma in her Alvarado home Saturday has been arrested in connection with her murder.
Chelsea Spillers, 33, was found dead in her home in the 200 block of Magnolia Street around 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Alvarado police said in a news release.
Officers responded to the home after receiving a welfare concern call. Spillers’ cause of death is suspected to be blunt force trauma, according to initial examinations by the coroner’s office, police said.
Spillers has worked for Alvarado Independent School District as a science teacher since 2022, according to Alvarado ISD, a spokesperson for the district.
Breaking News and Investigation
Breaking News
As the investigation into Spillers’ death progressed, Alvarado police said a murder warrant was issued for Spillers’ husband, Brandon Ashley.
Search for the Suspect
On Sunday night, deputies in Grimes County started receiving calls about a suspicious man, who was later identified as Ashley.
The first call came in around 7:07 p.m., and reported a man in black shorts and no shirt trespassing at a residence near FM 1696 in Bedias, according to a release from the Grimes County sheriff’s office. The caller reported the man may have been experiencing a mental health episode and had a pistol, according to deputies.
The man also knocked on several doors in the area earlier in the day and asked for a shirt. Witnesses mentioned the man was avoiding State Highway 90, and he had stated there were “too many cops” there, according to deputies.
Apprehension of the Suspect
Deputies said in the release they were unable to locate the man until Monday morning.
The man was found at a convenience store in Bedias after the black Cadillac Escalade he was in was reported on private property near CR 115, deputies said in the release.
The man, now known to be Ashley, was detained by deputies at about 10:12 a.m.
Deputies learned that Ashley had hidden a firearm near the convenience store. An Astra .357 caliber revolver was later recovered, and it was revealed that Ashley was wanted out of Johnson County in connection with the homicide on Saturday. The vehicle he was in was also connected to that warrant, deputies said.
Medical Evaluation and Extradition
Ashley was taken to an emergency room on Sunday after he was detained by deputies for medical evaluation.
As of Monday, Alvarado police said Ashley was booked into the Grimes County jail and is awaiting extradition to Johnson County.
Conclusion
The murder of Chelsea Spillers has sent shockwaves through the community, and the arrest of her husband, Brandon Ashley, has brought some sense of closure to the investigation. However, the case is still ongoing, and more details are expected to emerge as it progresses. The community will be watching closely as the case unfolds, and justice is sought for the victim and her family.
Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
A: Chelsea Spillers, a 33-year-old science teacher, was found dead in her home in Alvarado, Texas, with suspected blunt force trauma as the cause of death.
A: Brandon Ashley, the husband of Chelsea Spillers, was arrested and charged with her murder.
A: Ashley was found at a convenience store in Bedias, Texas, after a black Cadillac Escalade he was in was reported on private property.
Investigation and Extradition
A: As of Monday, Alvarado police said Ashley was booked into the Grimes County jail and is awaiting extradition to Johnson County.
A: A firearm, an Astra .357 caliber revolver, was recovered near the convenience store, and it was revealed that Ashley was wanted out of Johnson County in connection with the homicide on Saturday.
