Weldon Powell Charged in Wife's Murder in Quitman, Texas
A man allegedly shot his wife in the head, dragged her to a bathroom, and left her body surrounded by ice for days before her brother-in-law reported her missing.
By Matthew Collins ·
Weldon Powell was arrested in Quitman, Texas, on Wednesday after authorities determined his wife, Brittany Powell, had been killed in their home. The Wood County Sheriff's Office booked him for the murder, and he is currently held in the Wood County Jail on a bond set at $1 million.
Newly released arrest documents allege that Powell shot his wife in the temple. Deputies observed bloodstains on the floor leading into the bathroom, indicating that she was likely shot in another part of the house and dragged to the bathroom. The affidavit states that Powell left her body there surrounded by ice for several days.
The case came to light on Wednesday when Brittany Powell's brother-in-law contacted 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 brother-in-law described this silence as unusual, noting that neither he nor his wife had received any contact from Powell in that time.
According to the probable cause affidavit, the last communication between the couple and Powell occurred three days prior to the police call. During that exchange, Powell mentioned a physical altercation with her husband. When her sister asked if she was safe, Powell texted back that she "was not good." She told her sister she would call as soon as possible, but she never did.
The brother-in-law told deputies that neither he nor Powell had shown up for work on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, which was atypical for both of them. He also used the Life360 tracking app to monitor Powell's location. His last recorded ping for her placed her at Lake Quitman three days ago. On Wednesday around noon, he visited the lake to look for her but was unable to find her.
At 2:30 p.m., the brother-in-law attempted to reach the couple again. Weldon Powell answered his phone and claimed he was out running errands while his wife remained home. The brother-in-law drove past a local store but did not see Powell or his truck. He then proceeded to the couple's residence. Upon arrival, he found that Powell was not inside. He knocked on the door and called out for his sister-in-law, but received no response.
When the brother-in-law called Powell again, Powell repeated that his wife was at the house. The brother-in-law told Powell he was considering calling the police due to his concern. According to the affidavit, Powell acted as if he did not care either way. After that call, Powell did not answer any further attempts to reach him.
Around 6 p.m., dispatchers pinged the phones of both Powell and his wife. Brittany Powell's phone registered a signal at Lake Quitman. Approximately 45 minutes later, the couple's landlord called dispatch. He said he had stopped by the house because he was worried about the pets being left alone. Upon entering to check on them, he discovered Brittany Powell's body in the bathroom.
The landlord called 911 and stated that Weldon Powell arrived at the scene shortly after. The landlord said Powell sped off at high speed when he saw the landlord inside. Deputies located Powell near the front gate of Holiday Villages and took him into custody.
