The ex-husband of a Houston realtor who vanished the day before Hurricane Harvey hit has tearfully admitted to strangling her to death, local cops say.
Steven McDowell, 44, led police to the body of Crystal Seratte McDowell, 37, who had been dumped in Chambers County woodland, after his arrest on Saturday.
But questions remain in the shocking case, Chambers County Sheriff Brian Hawthorne told Chron.com – principally why she was killed.
‘We really don’t have any motive at this point in time,’ he said.
Steven McDowell, 44, tearfully admitted strangling 37-year old ex-wife Crystal Seratte to death after his arrest on Saturday, the Chambers County Sheriff’s Department has said
Crystal was on her way to her ex-husband Steve’s home to collect their children, five and eight (all pictured), when she vanished on August 25, just before Hurricane Harvey hit the area
Chambers County Sheriff’s Office said it had developed nine persons of interest before finally arresting McDowell over the weekend, according to local affiliate ABC NEWS 13 on Saturday.
Crystal McDowell was last heard from on August 25 when she left the home of boyfriend Paul Hargrave to go to collect her children – aged five and eight – from her ex-husband in Houston.
She never showed up and later missed several business appointments, prompting her uncle to report her missing on August 26.
At the time, Steve claimed she never showed up at his house to collect the children.
He also said he received a text message from her before she was due to arrive in which she described plans to take the children to Dallas to ride out the storm.
Four days after vanishing, the woman’s Mercedes was found submerged in flood water in the parking lot of a Motel 6.
Crystal’s car (left) was found in floodwater on August 29. Police said they’re still not clear on what Steve’s motive might have been for the alleged murder
Crystal had been living with boyfriend Paul Hargrave when she was killed. Cops say despite persistent rumors, her children did not witness her murder
It was recognized by someone who had seen her family’s frantic social media appeals to find her.
Her remains were discovered more than 20 miles away from her vehicle, after Steve led them to her. A black bag containing her business paperwork was also found at Steve’s house.
The children had been staying with their father after Crystal’s disappearance, but have been in the care of Child Protective Services since Saturday’s arrest.
Hawthorne said that there is no evidence that the children saw the death, despite local rumors to the contrary.
According to her uncle, McDowell recently started working with him in real estate, and everything was falling into place.
‘She said herself she was the happiest she had ever been in her life,’ Jeff Walters said, adding that he is like a second mother to the missing woman.
Her parents died when she was 11, and after that she lived with him.
In the days before her disappearance, Crystal made teasing references to a happy new life on social media.
McDowell is being held on $500,000 bail and is due in court on Tuesday.