Houston, TX – Texas authorities have apprehended a 39-year-old man in connection with the alleged fatal shooting of his father and stepmother at their residence in Spring, Texas. The suspect was located and arrested at a Houston-area poker club, according to law enforcement officials.
Deputies with the Harris County Constable Precinct 4 reported receiving a tip on Tuesday indicating that Benjamin Frakes was present at the Dog House Poker Club. Frakes was a wanted suspect in the murders of his father, Franklin Frakes, 72, and his stepmother, Florentina Frakes, 56, who were discovered deceased at their home in Spring, Texas. Authorities stated that both victims sustained multiple gunshot wounds, and a handgun was recovered from the crime scene.
Benjamin Frakes has been charged with two counts of capital murder. Following his arrest on Tuesday, law enforcement executed a search warrant on his vehicle. During the search, which involved K-9 units, deputies reported finding a “sizable” quantity of cocaine, Xanax, Oxycodone, and other unidentified substances, as well as two firearms.
The bodies of Franklin and Florentina Frakes were discovered on Friday evening after a concerned neighbor went to check on the couple. The same neighbor informed investigators that they had heard gunshots the previous night, according to local news outlet KTRK.
Precinct 4 deputies believe that Benjamin Frakes forcibly entered the victims’ home last Thursday. Preliminary investigations suggest a physical altercation occurred between Benjamin Frakes and his father, Franklin Frakes, resulting in injuries to the suspect.
A neighbor, Joshua Griffin, reportedly saw the couple alive just hours before the incident, describing the evening as quiet and unremarkable.
Authorities have also noted that the couple’s black Mercedes SUV remains missing and are seeking information regarding its whereabouts.
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