Grand Jury Indicts Bacliff Man in ‘Texas Killing Fields’ Murders After 42 Years

GALVESTON COUNTY, Texas — A Galveston County grand jury has indicted a Bacliff man in connection with two killings tied to the decades-old “Texas Killing Fields” cases, officials announced.

On March 31, 2026, 61-year-old James Dolphs Elmore Jr. was indicted for manslaughter and felony tampering with evidence in the death of Laura Miller, along with an additional tampering with evidence charge in the murder of Audrey Cook.

The indictments come as part of a renewed effort by the Galveston County District Attorney’s Office and multiple law enforcement agencies to revisit unsolved cases involving women whose bodies were discovered in an area near Calder Road and Ervin Street in League City, commonly referred to as the “Texas Killing Fields.”

Between 1984 and 1991, the remains of several women were found in the area, including Heidi Fye-Villareal, Audrey Cook, Laura Miller, and Donna Prudhomme.

Authorities said the latest charges stem from a multi-agency task force formed to reexamine evidence, re-interview witnesses, and pursue new leads in the long-standing investigation. Violence Against Women Chief Assistant District Attorney Kate Willis led the effort.

Investigators had also pursued indictments against longtime suspect Clyde Hedrick for multiple killings tied to the area. Hedrick died prior to the grand jury presentation, but evidence of his alleged involvement was still presented to provide transparency and closure to victims’ families. 72-year-old Hedrick died by suicide on March 21, 2026.

Hedrick had been convicted in 2014 for involuntary manslaughter in connection with the 1984 death of Ellen Rae Simpson Beason. He was then sentenced to 20 years in prison, but was released in 2021 after serving just eight years.

Elmore is accused of helping with the disposal of two bodies.

Following the presentation, the grand jury returned indictments against Elmore for his alleged role in the deaths of Cook and Miller.

Officials said prosecutors and investigators have continued working the cases for decades, alongside agencies including the League City Police Department, Galveston County Sheriff’s Office, FBI, Hitchcock Police Department, Texas City Police Department, Dickinson Police Department, Galveston Police Department and Santa Fe Police Department.

The investigation into the Killing Fields cases remains ongoing.