Liberty County commissioners worked through a lengthy agenda Tuesday, July 28, receiving an update on repairs at the Liberty County Jail, advancing plans for a future county animal shelter, approving several development projects and hearing emotional public comments from the family of Sherry Novosad before conducting routine county business.
Before turning to the regular agenda, Kathy Hatcher, the mother of the late Sherry Novosad, renewed her family’s call for a more thorough investigation into her daughter’s death. Hatcher alleged the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office ruled the case a suicide at the scene and failed to properly investigate the circumstances surrounding her daughter’s death in November 2024.
Hatcher alleged the family later hired an independent forensic expert who identified blood evidence investigators had overlooked. She also alleged investigators failed to document injuries to Novosad’s body, including bruising, a broken nose, a busted lip and marks on her arms that she believes are inconsistent with suicide.
“We have begged for somebody to come out to the house because we found on our own and had a forensic [investigator] come in and they found extra blood that was splattered on the wall,” Hatcher told commissioners. “They didn’t check anything. They did not examine anything.”
Hatcher further alleged members of her family have been repeatedly followed and harassed by sheriff’s deputies. She told commissioners patrol vehicles have driven down the family’s dead-end road and alleged a deputy followed her granddaughter after she left the cemetery where Novosad is buried, frightening her and her children.
Hatcher also alleged a Liberty County sheriff’s deputy had been involved in a romantic relationship with Novosad before her death and questioned whether that relationship should have resulted in additional scrutiny of the investigation.
“It’s a whole cover-up from the beginning because there is a sheriff involved that was involved with my daughter,” Hatcher alleged.
Carl Hatcher, Sherry’s father, echoed those allegations, telling commissioners the family believes Novosad was murdered and intends to continue pursuing the matter through legal channels. He also alleged the Sheriff’s Office asked the family to sign a nondisclosure agreement before allowing them to review evidence related to the case.
“Our daughter was murdered. Nobody seemed to care, especially the sheriff’s department,” Hatcher said.
Investigative journalist Wayne Dolcefino, who has been investigating Novosad’s death, also addressed the court. Dolcefino said he recently filed a lawsuit against Liberty County seeking the release of body camera footage from the scene. He alleged Sheriff Bobby Rader had previously promised to reopen the investigation but had not done so. Dolcefino also alleged Novosad’s cellphone remains in the Sheriff’s Office’s possession nearly 20 months after her death and questioned why it had not been released for examination.
“I’m not going away. I filed a lawsuit, you may or may not know yet, against Liberty County the other day. And I filed it because this family deserves to see the body camera video of the scene,” Dolcefino said.
Dolcefino further alleged that Liberty County officials were attempting to conceal information related to the case and said taxpayers would ultimately bear the cost of the litigation.
Because the matter was raised during public comment and was not listed on the meeting agenda, commissioners did not respond to the allegations before proceeding with the remainder of the meeting.
Later in the meeting, Sheriff Bobby Rader updated the court on repairs to the Liberty County Jail, saying fire restoration is complete except for two replacement doors that remain backordered until November or December. He said installation of the jail’s new exhaust purge system is underway, the HVAC project is nearing completion and the west side of the facility is fully operational.
Rader also reported that approximately 136 security cameras have been installed, with about 30 more expected before the project is completed in September. Installation of 96 new electronic door locks and intercoms is expected to be finished by the end of July.
One project still facing a lengthy delay involves the jail’s front sliding entrance doors.
“They’re saying that’s not going to be here until March of 2027,” Rader said.
Commissioners accepted the report.
The court also approved issuing a request for qualifications for architectural services for a future Liberty County animal shelter. The same evaluation committee that helped select the architect for the county’s new jail will review submissions. The committee includes County Attorney Matthew Poston, Katherine McCarty, Chief Deputy Billy Knox, Sheriff Bobby Rader, Fire Marshal Nathan Green, County Auditor Dwayne Gott and Pct. 1 Commissioner Bruce Karbowski serving as the court’s liaison.
Commissioners awarded an asphalt overlay services contract to Durwood Green Construction (new owner of Vulcan Construction) after county staff recommended the company as the highest-ranked proposer. County officials said the contract will allow the county to move forward with planned roadway improvements, including work associated with Liberty Meadows and CR 604.
The court also approved soliciting bids to sell surplus county property through an online auction.
Development activity occupied much of the meeting as commissioners approved final plats for BuyBite No. 4, a gas station on FM 1008 in Precinct 4, Gemini Subdivision Section 2 on CR 370 and Tarkington Pines Subdivision on CR 2266.
Commissioners also accepted roads in River Ranch Trails Sections 8 through 11, River Ranch Meadows Sections 11 through 13, River Ranch Boulevard Phase 5 and River Run Trail Section 3 into the county’s two-year maintenance program.
During that discussion, representatives of LJA Engineering praised the quality of the subdivision’s road construction and county officials announced plans to develop a standardized checklist to help streamline the subdivision approval process for developers while ensuring compliance with county regulations.
Commissioners approved a proposed seven-space RV park on CR 677 north of Dayton after Fire Marshal Nathan Green said the developer had worked closely with his office and exceeded minimum fire code requirements to provide adequate access for emergency responders.
Other actions approved Tuesday included renewing the Liberty County Clerk’s records archive and retention plan, including continued collection of the $10 archive fee; renewing an interlocal agreement providing two school resource officers for Hull-Daisetta ISD; and extending an interlocal agreement with Old River Drainage District No. 1 for roadway maintenance cooperation.
Following executive session, commissioners authorized County Attorney Matthew Poston to issue demand letters to Frontier Internet and other fiber-optic providers seeking compensation for alleged damage to county roads and drainage ditches caused during fiber installation projects. The court also approved a memorandum of easement with Mustang Express Pipeline LLC for a pipeline crossing on county-owned property near CR 2312 in exchange for $7,500.