Crime

Murder and the mannequin: Creepy crooks caught thanks to a doll with red lipstick

A mannequin in the front seat of a parked van led San Diego police to a couple wanted for questioning in a Houston homicide case.

The mannequin, fully dressed and wearing a baseball cap and red lipstick, was found on Tuesday night, sitting in the front seat of a white 1997 Ford van with Texas plates parked near a Costco in Kearny Mesa, a suburb of San Diego.

Officers immediately thought the vehicle looked suspicious and ran the license plates, soon finding that the van was linked to a person of interest in a shooting death in Houston.

Police found Adam Gouy, 26, and Amber Herdman, 30, sleeping in the back of the van. Gouy and Herdman are both people of interest in the shooting death of Samuel Luke Delaschott, 44, who died in the parking lot of a Burger King in Montrose after suffering a gunshot wound to the head on July 15.

The couple was detained on a felony warrant for being under the influence of a controlled substance and were booked into county jail. According to NBC 7 San Diego, Lt. Kevin Mayer of the San Diego Police Department said that further charges against the pair from Houston police officials are pending.

Gouy, a resident of Houston, has previously been sentenced to eight months in jail in 2007 for failing to register as a sex offender from an incident in which he sexually assaulted a 5-year-old child.

The mannequin found in the front seat of Gouy's van was what lead police to his arrest.

NBC 7 San Diego

The mannequin found in the front seat of Gouy's van was what lead police to his arrest.

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destination-worthy bookstore

Century-old Japanese bookstore authors a new chapter in Rice Village

Courtesy of NewQuest

The Rice Village location will build on the success of Kinokuniya's Katy outpost.

A Japanese bookstore known for its extensive selection of anime and manga is coming to one of the inner loop’s most popular shopping districts. Kinokuniya will open its second Houston-area location in Rice Village this fall.

The store has claimed the former Village Fitness space at 2369 Rice Blvd. for its Rice Village outpost. At almost 5,600 square feet, the store will offer shoppers plenty of room to browse Kinokuniya’s books, stationary, paper goods, and more.

“We’d been looking in the Rice Village area for a long time,” NewQuest managing director and executive vice president Heather Nguyen said in a statement. “We got this one before it could hit the market.”

Kinokuniya opened its first Houston location in the Katy Grand shopping in 2019. The Japan-based chain, which will turn 100 next year, also operates stores across Asia, in the United Arab Emirates, Australia, and the U.S., including Austin and two Dallas-area outposts in Plano and Carrollton.

In addition to books, the store hosts a variety of events, from book signings to horror storytelling sessions to anime meet-ups. The store's "Makerspace" hosts workshops, presentations, and other interactive experiences.

“Kinokuniya will be a tremendous addition to the Village, given its proximity to Rice University and the neighborhood’s reputation as one of Houston’s most walkable and community-oriented destinations,” Nguyen added. “The bookstore aligns perfectly with the area’s culture of learning, discovery, and appreciation for literature.”

Rice Village has been in an almost-decade long process of upgrading its retail offerings with more national and international brands. Last year, Rice University announced the Gateway Project, a $120 million endeavor to create a seamless, pedestrian-friendly corridor linking the campus to the heart of the Village.

shopping openings bookstores kinokuniya rice village