DNA tests confirm identities of two men killed in Dayton

Tire tracks lead down to where a burned-out vehicle with two bodies inside was discovered on Jan. 26. (Photo submitted by Sean Stewart)

Liberty County Sheriff’s Capt. Billy Knox says that DNA results have now confirmed the identities of two murder victims found badly burned in a vehicle under the FM 1409 bridge formerly known as Dead Man’s Curve south of Dayton.

The victims are Leonard Jones Jr., 29, of Dayton, and Gerardo Godinez, whose age and place of residency have not been released.

Authorities say the Jones and Godinez were murdered at a separate location and their bodies were placed in the vehicle, which was then set on fire. One of the victims was found in the back seat of the passenger car and the other was in the trunk. Their bodies were discovered in the burning vehicle after a passing motorist reported seeing a fire under the bridge.

During the initial autopsy on the two bodies, it was determined that one of the victims had been shot prior to being set on fire in the vehicle.

Three people have been charged in connection to the case – Isaiah Daquinton Douglas, 22, of Dayton, DaQuincy Broussard, 37, of Beaumont, and Destiny Gleason, 24, of Dayton. Both Douglas and Broussard are charged with Capital Murder and are being held without bond. Gleason is charged with Tampering With Evidence with a bond set at $250,000.

The murders are being investigated by the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office as the scene where they bodies were found lies outside the city limits of Dayton.

See related:

Previous articleLife Flight, City of Dayton staff discuss future training opportunities
Next articleLegal Notice
Bluebonnet News
Before creating Bluebonnet News in 2018, Vanesa Brashier was a community editor for the Houston Chronicle/Houston Community Newspapers. During part of her 12 years at the newspapers, she was assigned as the digital editor and managing editor for the Humble Observer, Kingwood Observer, East Montgomery County Observer and the Lake Houston Observer, and the editor of the Dayton News, Cleveland Advocate and Eastex Advocate. Over the years, she has earned more than two dozen writing awards, including Journalist of the Year.

3 COMMENTS

  1. I don’t even know Daquincy Briussard but just looking at the stupid look he has on his mugshot photo I’d love to put a bullet in his ass.. I want see the look on his face when the judge gives him the Death Penalty or Life without Parole.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.