Attempted Murder Suspect Caught Here

Fayette County Sheriff’s Deputies captured a man who allegedly tried killing a woman by setting her on fire in Hallettsville.

According to a report from the Hallettsville Police Department, officers received a call around 8:40 p.m. on Wednesday, May 19, reporting a domestic disturbance in progress in the 800 block of South Texana Street.

Upon arrival, officers found an adult female victim with multiple burns on her body. The report said a male suspect intentionally lit her on fire. The suspect fled the scene before police arrived.

Hallettsville Police notified the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office about the attack and provided a description of the suspect’s vehicle. A report from the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office said Deputy A.J. Gonzales was on patrol when he spotted a white Ford F-350 pickup matching the description of the suspect’s vehicle.

The dually one-ton pickup was heading west on US 90 in Schulenburg. Gonzales was heading east on 90. He turned around to catch up to the vehicle. The pickup turned north on FM 2672 towards High Hill. Gonzales initiated a traffic stop, but the pickup sped away, traveling as fast as 80 miles per hour. The pickup led Gonzales down several roads before turning on Ehler Grasshoff Road and then onto a private driveway. The dually crashed into a barb wire fence. Deputy Dustin Kieschnick arrived to assist.

Gonzales ordered the suspect out of the vehicle and detained him. Deputies found a knife on the suspect, whom they identified as 47-year-old Cecil Bernard Russell of Hallettsville. They transported him to the Dan R. Beck Justice Center in La Grange where Russell was charged with evading arrest with a vehicle and attempted murder out of Lavaca County.

Also assisting in the pursuit were Deputy T.J. McCleney and Schulenburg Police Officer Duane Meagher.