A 72-year-old woman was indicted by an Ector County Grand Jury after she was reportedly involved in a house fire that left one person dead.
Linda Marlene Letcher, 72, was indicted on capital murder by terror by other felony, capital felony, and arson serious bodily injury or death, first degree felony.
Letcher has two bonds totaling $575,000 and was still in custody as of Wednesday morning, jail records show.
Court records show that Luis Chavez is Letcher’s current court-appointed attorney. However, Letcher sent a letter to the Ector County District Clerk asking for a different attorney as she claims Chavez “has done nothing for me.”
Letcher has an arraignment hearing scheduled for 3 p.m. Aug. 8 in the 70th District courtroom of Judge Denn Whalen.
According to an Ector County Sheriff’s Office press release from April 25, deputies were dispatched at 1:56 p.m. April 24 to the 6400 block of St. Louis Avenue in reference to a structure fire.
A woman, later identified as Tommie Jone Rister, was reportedly located inside the residence and transported to Medical Center Hospital due to her injuries. Rister was transported to Lubbock and later died from her injuries.
Prior to the house becoming engulfed by fire, a witness at the scene saw a woman coming out of the enclosed carport, which is attached to the residence, an ECSO probable cause affidavit detailed. The same woman was found at the scene and was identified as Letcher.
Investigators reportedly conducted an interview with Letcher. She was advised of her Miranda Rights in which she waived her right and agreed to speak with investigators. Letcher informed investigators that she had started the fire inside the enclosed carport intentionally.
