Man seen dragging body of ex-wife in front of her home
A two-day killing spree that left two people dead and one injured began Monday when a man is believed to have killed his ex-wife at her northwest Harris County home, then dragged her body across the driveway, according to court documents.
Deputies with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office are on the hunt for 53-year-old Russell Cormier, who they say went on to kill a man at a business in northeast Harris County and the next day injure his neighbor.
The killing spree started about 6 a.m. Monday at the home of the man’s ex-wife in the 12300 block of Greencanyon Drive.
“I’m going to shoot your son,” Cormier yelled at 61-year-old Fannie McWhite, according to a sworn statement from the investigating deputy.
“No, no,” McWhite responded.
“Well, how do you like this?” Cormier responded, and allegedly fired two shots.
Moments later, neighbors saw Cormier dragging McWhite’s body toward the street, according to the statement.
McWhite’s son was inside the home and did not see the argument.
In the next two hours, Cormier is suspected of setting a trailer on fire in the yard of his home on Shotwell Street. Investigators say he then went to a business on Kindred Drive where 60-year-old Thornton “Jack” Bivens was shot and killed about 8 a.m. as he arrived for work. The business is about 5 miles from McWhite’s house.
The following morning on Shotwell Street, a neighbor was shot and injured about 4:30 a.m., according to the sworn statement. The neighbor was transported to an area hospital and was in stable condition.
Cormier was charged with murder Tuesday in McWhite’s death but had not been charged in the other shootings as of late Wednesday.
Cormier does not appear to have a criminal record in Harris County, but he and McWhite had a tumultuous history.
The same year the couple’s divorce was finalized in 2014, a judge granted a temporary restraining order for McWhite against Cormier. Cormier had threatened McWhite’s son before, the son told deputies.
Cormier was last seen driving a late-2000s model black Dodge Stratus that was missing the front driver-side hubcap.
Crime Stoppers has offered up to $5,000 for information, asking for tips to be called in to 713-222-TIPS.