PORT ARTHUR, Texas — A Port Arthur woman is behind bars on a $1 million bond in connection with a an early May 2022 murder of a man.
Port Arthur Police announced Wednesday evening that they arrested Lace Skyler Christian, 24, at her home in Port Arthur.
Officials believe she killed Russell Vernon Reado, 71. He was found shot to death on May 10, 2022, inside a home in the 1600 block of Maple Avenue.
Christian told police that she found Reado's body at his home. She told police she was there to borrow his car and later said that she was just checking on his welfare, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Christian claimed that the man called her to let her know that he wasn't feeling well, but phone records show that he did not call her.
She admitted to going to the man’s house on May 9 between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. during an interview with detectives.
She said she went to the residence twice, and that she she didn't contact Reado the second time. Police said the GPS tracker shows her inside the residence for about one minute.
Security video shows no other person or vehicle going into Reado's residence after she left on May 10 around midnight, until she returns and finds him deceased on May 10 at about 5 p.m., the affidavit says.
Security video also shows Christian's black car at or near the residence four times, although she told police she was there only two times.
Detectives also confirmed that she was there four times through a GPS tracking device that was worn by Christian
Detectives said Christian was inside Reado's residence during the estimated time it’s believed Reado was killed. Detectives said they used his phone records to obtain this time frame.
Additionally, Christian told police that Reado was shot, but from her point of view seen from the security video, it was impossible for her to determine this, police said.
Christian's bond was set to $1 million by Justice of the Peace Pct. 1 Ben Collins.
An autopsy was ordered for the man.
It is unclear if there are other suspects in the investigation.
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This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.
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