Multiple adults and children found dead inside Houston area home

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Sunday, August 9, 2015
Eight people found dead in northwest Harris County
Three adults and five children were found dead in a northwest Harris County home

HOUSTON -- New information was provided by a Texas Sheriff's Office following the deaths of 8 people found inside a northwest Harris County home early Sunday morning.

David Conley, 48, is in custody, charged with capital murder following the deaths of 2 adults and 6 children. The deceased are Dwayne Jackson, 50, and Valerie Jackson, 40, and six children -- Nathaniel, 13; Honesty, 11; Dwayne, Jr., 10; Caleb, 9; Trinity, 7; and Jonah, 6. The victims were found in each of the three bedrooms inside the house.

Detectives say the motive appears to be a dispute with Valerie Jackson, with whom Conley had a previous relationship. They say say one or two of the children may be Conley's.

PHOTOS: Scene where 6 children and 2 adults were found dead

According to the Associated Press, in the arrest affidavit, Conley said he had discovered on Saturday morning that the locks had been changed at the house on Falling Oaks at Veterans Memorial after he'd moved out. He then entered the home through an unlocked window and restrained with handcuffs, shot and killed the eight people.

A welfare check had come in from a relative of one of the victims at around 9:30pm. Deputies arrived and tried unsuccessfully to get someone to answer the door.

"After several repeated times to get someone to come in the door, more information was obtained that a male was inside the home who had a warrant for aggravated assault of a family member," said Deputy Thomas Gilliland with the Harris County Sheriff's Office.

Because of the the suspect's warrant, the sergeant on scene called for a high-risk operations unit. With the home surrounded, deputies looked through a window and noticed what appeared to be a juvenile dead on the floor. That's when they forced their way inside.

"It seemed like a movie," said one neighbor. "I couldn't even believe it myself. I've never been in a situation like this. Like I said, I was just hanging out with my girlfriend, having a good time with her family."

Once inside, deputies say Conley fired at them. They retreated and a standoff followed that lasted until around 12:30am, when a negotiator was able to talk Conley out of the house.

Detectives said that there was not an active restraining order against Conley.

Conley, who has prior convictions for aggravated robbery, evading arrest and drug charges, is being held without bond.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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