Family Murder Haunts

Family's execution murder continues to haunt the police: Houston's most notorious cold case?

A year ago, a horrific quadruple murder shook a quiet community in Cypress and officials are reaching out to the public again, hoping to garner any information that could lead to reviving the now cold case.

Crime Stoppers of Houston, the Harris County Sheriff's Office and the Houston Chinese Alliance are seeking the public's help finding the person or persons responsible for the murder of the Sun family, which included Maoye Sun, his wife Mei Xie, and their two sons, Timothy and Titus.

The family was found gunned to death in their home in the 14000 block of Fosters Creek Drive in northwest Harris County on Jan. 30, 2014. Deputies at the scene — who were responding to a welfare check since the father hadn't gone to work in several days — discovered the bodies in different rooms within the home.

"I want you to remember that you killed two children. I want that to burn in your brain. I want it to give you a heart condition. I want it to give you ulcers."

Initially cast by some as a possible murder-suicide, investigators eventually ruled the case as a homicide with the parents and two children all shot execution style. Each of the victims was shot at least once in the head. According to sources close to the investigation, several of the home's windows were shattered.

In the year since the murder of the Sun family, no information has led to an arrest. Now, investigators and officials are doing whatever they can in hopes of drawing out any individuals who might have knowledge about the crime.

At a press conference on Monday, Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia announced that the $70,000 reward officials announced last summer has been increased to $75,000. And Garcia brought plenty of emotion to his continuing search for justice.

"I want you to remember that you killed two children," Garcia said, standing alongside Jeff McShan of Crime Stoppers of Houston and Howard Xu of the Houston Chinese Alliance. "I want that to burn in your brain. I want it to give you a heart condition. I want it to give you ulcers."

Officials say that someone knows something about the events of the tragedy and are urging members of the public to submit any information they have by calling Crime Stoppers.

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no more trips to Colorado

Bill to legalize marijuana in Texas filed by Dallas Democrat

Photo courtesy of Texas Original

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Texas Rep. Jessica González (D-Dallas) has filed a bill to legalize recreational marijuana in Texas. House Bill 1208 would legalize the cultivation, manufacturing, transportation, and sale of cannabis.

The bill would allow adults 21 and older to use, possess, and transport up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana for personal use. Adults could also keep up to 10 ounces of cannabis in their residence, as long as it is stored in a secure location.

Smoking or consuming cannabis while in a public place or in a car on a public road would not be allowed.

Gonzalez filed the bill in mid-November, one in a suite of bills that also included expanding insurance coverage for in vitro fertilization for LGBTQ couples; and requiring landlords to disclose all fees before a rental lease is signed.

Her bill was filed prior to an initiative launched by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on December 4 to ban THC products in Texas entirely.

In addition to legalizing recreational use, the bill also makes provisions for its production and sale including requiring that the packaging be child-resistent and clearly labeled, so that it's not confused for candy.

Businesses looking to grow, transport, test, or sell cannabis would need to be licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. A 10 percent tax would be imposed on the sale of all cannabis and cannabis products. Some of the profits would go towards funding public schools.

If passed, the bill would take effect on September 1, 2025.

Medical cannabis is currently legal in Texas under the Texas Compassionate Use Program, which allows low-THC cannabis to be prescribed for conditions such as epilepsy, MS, autism, cancer, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Some cities have also approved decriminalization for the possession of four ounces or less of marijuana, including Austin, Bastrop, Dallas, Denton, Elgin, Killeen, and Lockhart.

politics marijuana