COMPLAINT

FILE NO.

COMPLAINT

THE STATI~ OF TEXAS VS. WILLlAM KEVIN MCCLURE

OFFENSE: FAILUR TO STOP AND RENDER AID

CHARGE CODE: FSRA-Death or SBI

FILEJ)~ 2...

------------------------------- DEPUTY
IN THE NAME AND BY AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

I, Jallles Blankenship, do solemnly swear thall have good reason to believe, and do believe, that
WILLIAM KEVIN MCCLURE on or about October 13,2017, and belore the making and tiling of this Complaint
in the County or Orange, and State of Texas,

did then and there intentionally or knowingly drive a vehicle that became involved in an accident that resulted
in death to Wanda Spoonemore, and the defendant did thereafter, knowing the accident had occurred,
intentionally or knowingly leave the scene of the accident, without giving his name, address, registration
number of the vehicle the derendant was driving. or the name of the defendant's motor vehicle liability insurer
to any pcrson, and without rendering reasonable assistance to the said Wanda Spoonemore when it was then
apparent that the said Wanda Spoonemore was in need of medical treatment, and the said accident resulted in
the death orthc said Wanda Spoonemore

against the peace and dignity of the State.

AS ISTANT COUNTY ATTORNEY

ORANGE COUNTY, TEXAS

STATE OF TEXAS
COUNTY OF ORANGE}
I, Detective James Blankenship. being a Peace Officer for the City of Vidor, State ofTexas, do
solemnly swear that I have good reason to believe and do believe that William Kevin McClure,
hereafter called the Defendant on or about the 13th, day of October, 2017, in the County ofOrange,
did then and there commit the offense of Accident Involving Death. Affiant's beliefis based on the
following set of facts:
On Friday, October 13,2017 about 9:05 pm I, Detective James Blankenship of the Vidor
Police Department was dispatched to the 1700 block of State Highway 12 in Vidor, Orange
County, Texas to assist with an investigation of an auto ~destrian crash. The vehicle that struck
the victi m left the scene without stopping or rendering rude. While in route, I was told by
dispatch the victim, 71-yearold, Wanda Spoonemore had died upon arrival at the hospital in
Beaumont. Upon arrival I spoke with other Vidor Police Units on scene who told me Mrs.
Spoonemore and her grandchildren visited the Texas Maze ofTerror and had parked across Hwy
12 from it. As they left, they walked across Hwy 12 at which time Mrs. Spoonemore was struck
by a vehicle in the eastbound lane. The suspect vehicle did not stop. While on scene I located a
complete grille (OM part number 15893788) that appeared to have faUen off the suspect vehicle
when it struck Mrs. Spoonemore. It was in the inside of the same lane. A part number was
located on the grille and it showed to belong to a 2004-2007 model Saturn Vue.
On Tuesday, October 17, 2017 about I :30 pm Detective Steele and myself, were searching
nearby areas looking for a Saturn Vue that possibly had front end damage and was possibly missing
that type ofgrille assembly. We checked North Tram and turned on Osteen Street and drove into the
mobile home park located at the end of the street. As we turned left we immediately saw a black
Saturn Vue parked at 1225 Osteen space number 15. The Saturn Vue was bearing Missouri
temporary tag 037LQU.1 could clearly see from the road the vehicle had right front damage. We got
out to s~ak with the property owner, but no one would answer the door. I could seethe front right of
the vehIcle had damage that would be consistent with an auto pedestrian crash. There was damage to
the front riJUlt bumper area and hood. There was also damage to the roof. There was a large dent
within the aamage that had a distinct hand print in the middle of it. The front lower grill assembly
was missing that I beJieved was a perfect match to one located at the scene. Viewing the damage is
consistent with an auto pedestrian crash. I remembered what a witness on the initial scene said when
Mrs. Spoonemore was struck by the suspect vehicle. He said her body was rolled onto the hood and
then rolled on top of the roof before bemg knocked to the shoulder ofHwy 12.
I looked closely at the damage on the vehicle and could see dark droplets of what I believe to
be dried blood on the front passenger side of the hood. I spoke with one of the neighbors who
ultimately called the owner of the Saturn. He handed me the phone and I spoke with a female
who identified herself, as the owner of the Saturn Vue, Trish Biswell. Initially, Biswell told me
that her son, Johnathan Thompson had used her Saturn Vue early Friday (October 13, 2017)
evening and did not return it until Sunday (October 15, 2017). Biswell told me it was not
damaged when her son left with it, but when he returned it on Sunday it was obvious that the
vehicle had been involved in some type ofcoUision. Biswell told me when she confronted
Thompson with the damage he got angt)' and left walking down the street. I explained to Biswell
I believed her vehicle was involved in the crash that killed Mrs. Spoonemore she became upset
and gave me verbal consent to take the vehicle to the crime lab to be analyzed for evidence.
Biswell told me she wou1d be back at home in 30 minutes, but she never returned and stopped
answering my phone calls. With the assistance of the Orange County District Attorney's Office
we obtained a search warrant for the vehicle and it was executed.
That same night Johnathan Thompson was located and willingly agreed to come to the Vidor
Police Department for questionin~. Johnathan told me that he was m the vehicle that struck Mrs.
Spoonemore, bu~ he was not drivmg. Johnathan told me Kevin McClure (Trish Biswell's
husband) was driving. Johnathan told me they were driving eastbound on Hwy 12 and as they
approached area where the Maze of Terror is 10cated (1745 block ofHwy 12) he heard a loud
"boom" and felt the vehicle rock. 10hnathan said McClure leaned forward towards the steering
wheel and said, "I'm not stopping." According to Johnathan, McClure then said, "ljust ran over
someone." 10hnathan told me they then returned to the residence on Osteen Street in Vidor.
McClure was interviewed several times and initially denied driving the vehicle at the time of
the crash or even being in it. On Thursday October 26,2017 McClure voluntarily came to the
Vidor Police Department to take a polygraph examination. Moments after the polygraph
concluded McClure asked to speak with me in my office. McClure confessed that he was in fact,
driving the Saturn Vue when it struck Mrs. Spoonmore on Hwy ]2. McClure stated 10hnathan
and he were driving back home from Beaumont. McClure turned east on Hwy 12 and as they
entered the 1745 block of Hwy 12 he said, "all the sudd:n 1 heard a thump and seen a flash, I
obviously hit something." McClure stated he didn't want to stop because he was scared, so he
returned home.

In view of the above set of facts, I respectfully request that a warrant of arrest for William
Kevin McClure, be issued, charging him, with the offense of Aeei ent Involving Death.

Affiant:
Sworn to and subscribed to me by Det. James 8lankenship, on this the 2nd, day of
November;;2~O~I~7'~_~!!!!i!!!!~~~~
.1:~~:~~. LYNDA SMITH ~~. ~
U~'::\ MyNoIary~O#I2260242 Notary-IC. D'2~"~~1
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... iOiliiif'nm~~F~IS~S~UANCE OJ ARREST WARRANT

o this the 2nd day of November 2017, I hereby acknowledge that I have examined the forgoing
affidavit and have determined that the probable cause exists for the issuance of an order that the
County Clerk of Orange County, Texas issue a warrant for the arrest of the accused.

MA~~COUNTY' TEXAS

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