Texas Murder Case: Husband Allegedly Shot Wife, Left Her in Bathroom for Days
A man in Quitman faces a $1 million bond after his sister-in-law reported a welfare concern that led to the discovery of the victim's body.
By Alina Campbell ·
Residents of Quitman, Texas, are grappling with the violent death of a local woman, a case that has moved from a private domestic dispute to a formal criminal investigation involving a one million dollar bond.
Weldon Powell was arrested on Wednesday by deputies from the Wood County Sheriff’s Office for the murder of his wife, Brittany Powell. The probable cause affidavit details that the victim was shot in the temple and subsequently placed in the family bathroom, surrounded by ice, for several days before being found.
The investigation began when the victim’s brother-in-law called Wood County dispatch with a welfare concern. He and his wife, who is Brittany Powell’s sister, had not heard from her in three days. The family noted that neither Brittany nor Weldon Powell had reported to their jobs, a deviation from their normal routine that raised immediate alarm.
According to the affidavit, the sister had texted her sibling on the third day following a physical altercation with her husband. When asked if she was safe, Brittany Powell replied that she “was not good.” She promised to call as soon as possible, a message that would become the last known communication with the living victim.
The brother-in-law attempted to locate the couple using the Life360 location app, which showed Brittany’s last known position at Lake Quitman three days prior. He drove to the lake around noon on Wednesday to search for her but found no trace. At 2:30 p.m., he reached out to Weldon Powell by phone. The husband claimed he was running errands while his wife remained at home. The brother-in-law drove past a local store but did not see the suspect or his truck.
Upon arriving at the couple’s residence, the brother-in-law found Weldon Powell absent. He knocked and called out for Brittany Powell but received no response. He called Weldon Powell again, who repeated that his wife was inside. When the brother-in-law stated he was calling the police, Weldon Powell reportedly acted indifferent. He did not answer any further calls.
Around 6 p.m., dispatchers pinged the couple’s phones, and Brittany Powell’s device registered at Lake Quitman. Forty-five minutes later, the couple’s landlord stopped by the house to check on pets left alone. He entered the home and discovered Brittany Powell’s body in the bathroom. The landlord called 911 and observed Weldon Powell pull up to the home. The suspect sped off at high speed when he saw the landlord and was later found at the front gate of Holiday Villages, where deputies took him into custody.
Deputies observed blood marks on the floor leading into the bathroom, indicating the victim was dragged in from an outside back door. This suggests she was shot in another area of the house before being moved. Weldon Powell is currently held in the Wood County Jail on a one million dollar bond.
