October 02, 2008

MCSO Cold Case Squad solves three cases / arrest three

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Squad recently charged three people in three unrelated cases after evidence was submitted to crime laboratories working under their Federal Grant from the National Institute of Justice.

On September 9, 2008, Cold Case Detectives charged David Earl Cooksey Jr. with Burglary of a Habitation with Intent to Commit Sexual Assault.

On October 1, 2006, at approximately 4:00 AM, an unknown suspect kicked in the apartment door belonging to a 19-year-old female living in the 8100 block of Research Forest Drive, The Woodlands, Texas. The suspect assaulted the victim, trying to place a rag in her mouth, and holding his ball cap over her face in an attempt to muffle her screams. The suspect cut the victim with a box-cutter, but the victim was able to wrestle the weapon from him. The suspect then fled the apartment and the victim called 911 while hiding in her closet. The case went cold.

Cold Case Detectives submitted evidence collected from the victim’s apartment, including the ball cap, to Sorenson Forensics, which is based in Salt Lake City, Utah. DNA results from the evidence were then forwarded to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Laboratory in Houston, Texas where the suspect’s DNA profile was entered into the Combined DNA Index System. The DNA Database search resulted in a "hit" on the suspect, David Earl Cooksey Jr.

A photograph of David Earl Cooksey Jr. is attached to this press release and Detectives are asking that the media utilize the photo when possible in an attempt to identify additional potential victims.

On September 9, 2008, Cold Case Detectives charged William Michael Proctor with Aggravated Robbery in connection with the 2003 armed robbery of Klein Bank.

On March 12, 2003, three men armed with handguns and an assault rifle entered the Klein Bank, located within the Kroger’s Food Store, in the 200 block of Sawdust Road in Spring, Texas. The suspects demanded an undisclosed amount of money and fled in a stolen Honda passenger car.

The Honda was found abandoned a short time later in the 24000 block of I-H 45, Spring.

Evidence from the getaway car, including a white ski mask worn by one of the suspects, was collected during the initial investigation. Subsequent DNA testing produced a DNA "Hit" between DNA from the white ski mask and the Combined DNA Index System. The DNA database linked William Michael Proctor as the suspect.

Cold Case Detectives travelled to the Harris County Jail recently and executed a search warrant on Proctor, who was being held in connection with a 2008 Capital Murder stemming from a robbery, which occurred in Houston, Texas.

Cold Case Detectives are currently working with Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Detectives to determine if the 2003 Klein Bank case can be linked to the 2008 Amegy Bank Robbery, which occurred within the same Kroger’s Food Store. It is possible that members of the same "crew" were involved in both bank robberies, along with several others committed in Harris County.

A photograph of William Michael Proctor is attached to this press release and Detectives are asking that the media utilize the photo when possible in an attempt to seek information from the public regarding these bank robberies.

On September 9, 2008, Cold Case Detectives arrested Galen "Buddy" Dwayne Baugus at his residence in the 26000 block of Eastwood Hills, Conroe, in connection with a 2001 Sexual Assault.

On June 3, 2001, a 19-year-old female was sleeping on a couch within a residence in the 20000 block of Curry Road, Conroe, Texas. The female reported that she was sexually assaulted during the early morning hours. The unknown suspect fled the scene. The initial investigation was conducted and DNA evidence collected.

In 2008, the DNA evidence from this case was linked to evidence in a 2003 Harris County Sexual Assault by the Combined DNA Index System. Investigation revealed that Baugus had been a suspect in the Harris County case.

Cold Case Detectives executed a search warrant regarding Baugus at his residence and obtaineda DNA sample for verification.

Baugus was charged with the 2001 Sexual Assault after DNA linked him to the crime. Baugus was arrested and subsequently made bail.

Cold Case Detectives currently investigate unsolved homicides for the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. In addition, the department’s Federal DNA Grant requires them to investigate "cold cases" involving select violent crimes, in which DNA evidence may exist. These crimes include homicides, major assaults, robberies, kidnappings, sexual assaults, etc.

Cold Case Detectives expect to be able to charge other suspects in unsolved cases once DNA testing results are obtained. Results of DNA testing in these cases are expected to be completed by the labs soon.

Progresses in these types of cases are made possible by funds provided to the Sheriff’s Office under the NIJ Grant, at no cost to the county.

Additionally, an agreement between the private laboratory, Sorenson Forensics, and the Texas Department of Public Safety in Houston allows evidence to be analyzed in a timely manner and DNA profiles uploaded into the Combined DNA Index System by DPS. The level of cooperation between the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Sorenson Forensics, and the DPS Laboratory in Houston is remarkable and allows for the resolution of major crimes that have sometimes almost been forgotten.