NEWS
Murder suspect jailed – Ex-boyfriend indicted for Tia Hutson’s murder
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Greg Bell, a former boyfriend of Tia Hutson, was arrested this week and charged with her murder, which occurred more than a year ago in Saint Jo.
Bell, 56, was indicted on Nov. 13 in the death of Hutson who was 50 at the time of her death. The 97th District Attorney’s office reported the Texas Rangers arrested Bell for first-degree murder on Nov. 14 and took him to the county jail where he remained on Thursday with $750,000 bond. He also had seven other Class C misdemeanor warrants for various complaints.
The grand jury indictment stated Hutson’s death was caused by “striking on her head with a hard object.”
This was the first murder in Saint Jo since 1986 and it shocked the small town, which is generally a quiet, rural city. A neighbor found Hutson in her home severely beaten and raped on Aug. 5, 2022. Six days later she died from her injuries.
Hutson’s son, Trevor Riley, called Bell’s arrest a “first step,” that relieves a lot of stress for his family. The family moved out of Saint Jo due to fear of any suspect.
“I’m sure the Bell family is feeling some measure of the horror and loss that we felt, my heart goes out to them. For those of us left behind, the Christian thing to do is to let go of our anger and fear and try to forgive. It’s up to the justice department to remember that my mom doesn’t have that opportunity.
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Montague County Commissioners wrapped up a few items before the end of the year as they met on Dec. 23.
Grant Coordinator Charley Lanier asked the court to go ahead and obligate $276,961.84 from the American Rescue Funds to complete the new wastewater treatment plant that will serve the courthouse complex.
He explained Dec. 30 is the last date where grant funds can be obligated, and he did not expect any issues since this project had already been approved in court using ARPA funds, he called it a “safety net,” to avoid any problem and possible return of the funds to the federal government.
Montague County has about $276,961.84 in grant funds which has not been allocated.
The court gave approval on the request.
Lanier also asked the court to apply for a grant for a tire cutter. Funded through the Nortex Regional Planning Commission and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the application will ask for $26,865 to purchase a larger gas-powered cutter on a trailer, which can be moved around for use. It would cut the larger tires into four pieces, which would be allowed into a landfill. Lanier said if the cutter comes through the county would need to obtain a permit for its use from TCEQ, which he added should not be an issue.
Commissioner Mark Murphey said he picks up more tires abandoned on the county roads than he disposes of at his own yard, adding he probably has 500 at his yard. The court gave approval to apply for this competitive grant.
The remainder of Monday’s brief meeting were year-end items. Bonds for the justice of the peace one, county clerk, county attorney, district attorney, sheriff, commissioner three and constable two were accepted.
A cooperative agreement with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the county was approved, along with a license and services agreement with Local Government Solutions to provide software for both justice of the peace officers. The county attorney’s Chapter 59 Asset Forfeiture report was presented with no new seizures or forfeiture.
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