Amarillo Lake Searched for Evidence in Sonnier Murder
By: Monica Yantosh
Updated: October 3, 2012
Investigators with the Lubbock Police Department were in Amarillo Wednesday searching a lake for evidence in the murder investigation of Dr. Joseph Sonnier.
LPD investigators were joined by investigators with the Amarillo PD and were aided in their search by David Neal Shepard, who is one of the suspects charged with Sonnier's murder.
Shepard was there and directed police to search an area of the lake. He was seen pointing to an area of the lake, then making a throwing motion. Police later searched that area.
Police divers were seen pulling something out of the lake late Wednesday afternoon. Reporters were escorted away from the area as soon as the evidence was found. They have not yet said what was found in the lake.
Nobody from LPD would confirm to EverythingLubbock.com that a search was even taking place as of late Wednesday afternoon, despite the day-long activity at the lake.
On July 11th, Dr. Joseph Sonnier was found stabbed and shot in his Lubbock home. In August, a Lubbock Grand Jury indicted Shepard and Amarillo Plastic Surgeon Thomas Michael Dixon with two counts of capital murder each.
Prosecutors say Dixon hired Shepard to murder Sonnier after Sonnier began dating Dixon's ex-girlfriend. They also say Dixon paid Shepard three silver bars, each worth about $3,000 for the murder.
Dr. Dixon is still being held in the Lubbock County Jail. Both Dixon and Shepard are up for a plea negotiation hearing on October 25th.
LPD investigators were joined by investigators with the Amarillo PD and were aided in their search by David Neal Shepard, who is one of the suspects charged with Sonnier's murder.
Shepard was there and directed police to search an area of the lake. He was seen pointing to an area of the lake, then making a throwing motion. Police later searched that area.
Police divers were seen pulling something out of the lake late Wednesday afternoon. Reporters were escorted away from the area as soon as the evidence was found. They have not yet said what was found in the lake.
Nobody from LPD would confirm to EverythingLubbock.com that a search was even taking place as of late Wednesday afternoon, despite the day-long activity at the lake.
On July 11th, Dr. Joseph Sonnier was found stabbed and shot in his Lubbock home. In August, a Lubbock Grand Jury indicted Shepard and Amarillo Plastic Surgeon Thomas Michael Dixon with two counts of capital murder each.
Prosecutors say Dixon hired Shepard to murder Sonnier after Sonnier began dating Dixon's ex-girlfriend. They also say Dixon paid Shepard three silver bars, each worth about $3,000 for the murder.
Dr. Dixon is still being held in the Lubbock County Jail. Both Dixon and Shepard are up for a plea negotiation hearing on October 25th.
