Bastrop, Tx–A 15-year-old suspect in the August shooting death of her mother in McDade was back in Bastrop on Nov. 18 for a hearing on whether she should continue to be held in a juvenile detention center in Seguin pending trial. After an appearance before 423rd District Judge Chris Duggan, the juvenile was remanded to custody.
The girl and her 18-year-old boyfriend were detained Aug. 17 in connection with the disappearance of Tracy Bellard, 42. Investigators believe Bellard was shot to death in her McDade home Aug. 14 and her body subsequently burned in a brush pile near Smithville.
Bastrop County Court at Law Judge Benton Eskew, who normally handles juvenile criminal cases in the county, has recused himself–on his own motion–from this case. Eskew did not explain his move.
The case was subsequently assigned to Judge Duggan whose court also has jurisdiction over juvenile matters.
Duggan has yet to take up a motion by prosecutors to consider the juvenile’s murder case under adult–rather than juvenile–criminal laws. A hearing on that issue is unlikely before January 2010, said District Attorney Bryan Goertz this week.
Also charged in Tracy Bellard’s death is Joseph Douglas who is being held in the Bastrop County Jail under $500,000 bail.