Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Crowley, TX: Crowley man suspected in wife's death dies

BY DOMINGO RAMIREZ JR.
ramirez@star-telegram.com

A Crowley man accused of fatally shooting his wife last week has died in a Fort Worth hospital just days after he was found passed out near railroad tracks in Johnson County with his 2-year-old son on his chest.

Corey DeWater, 24, passed away at 12:36 p.m. Monday in Fort Worth. His cause of death is pending.

DeWater had been in critical condition at Huguley Memorial Medical Center in Fort Worth. He apparently overdosed on drugs, a news release from the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department states.

DeWater’s wife, Ashley, 22, was pronounced dead at 11:29 p.m. Thursday at their home in the 100 block of Hirth Drive in Crowley, the medical examiner’s office reported on its website.

The 2-year-old was unharmed and released to the custody of relatives, the news release states.

Crowley police got a 911 call about a disturbance at the DeWater house about 10:20 p.m. Thursday.

"Their initial investigation revealed the suspect had shot his wife multiple times and fled with their 2-year-old son," the news release states.

A bulletin to look for DeWater was broadcast. About 11:15 p.m. Thursday, Johnson County sheriff’s deputies were dispatched on a report of a wrecked vehicle in Egan, about 10 miles away, at railroad tracks near Farm Road 2280.

They found DeWater’s abandoned car.

"Officers determined the engine was still warm," the release states. "Officers concluded the suspect was still in the area and likely on foot."

Officers learned from DeWater's father that the man "had confessed to killing his wife," Sheriff Bob Alford said in the release. DeWater indicated that he was "contemplating suicide or 'suicide by cop,'" meaning that he would shoot it out with officers, Alford said.

Authorities found Dewater about a half-mile from the car.

This report contains information from Star-Telegram archives.

Domingo Ramirez Jr., 817-390-7763

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