Man accused in crime spree faces 2nd murder count

Arson, aggravated assault charges also possible from 2 days of violence

A Houston man arrested after a two-day crime spree that left two people dead and one injured has been charged with a second count of murder and could face additional charges of arson and aggravated assault.

Russell Cormier, 53, who appeared Tuesday in court in a wheelchair with a bandaged hand, is charged with murder in the death of his ex-wife and a man at a separate location on April 17.

Prosecutor Traci Bennett said Cormier confessed to the two slayings and to injuring a neighbor with a shotgun, although no charge has been filed in the injury.

Bennett said she is also considering filing an arson charge against Cormier, who is accused of setting fire to the trailer where he lived. She said Cormier apparently burned his hand during the attempt. Bail set at $500K

His attorney, Brian Roberts, said in court that Cormier was in a wheelchair because of a broken ankle but did not give details on what happened.

Cormier remains in the Harris County Jail in lieu of $500,000 bail. State District Judge Denise Bradley ruled bail would stay the same until prosecutors decide if they want to upgrade charges to capital murder. Intentionally causing the deaths of two people is a capital crime that could bring the death penalty or life in prison. Several guns recovered

Investigators said they believe Cormier shot and killed his ex-wife, 61-yearold Fannie McWhite, near her northeast Harris County home.

Neighbors apparently heard two shots about 6 a.m. and looked outside to see Cormier dragging his ex-wife’s body toward the street. Two shell casings were found nearby.

The neighbors said Cormier fled in a black Toyota Tundra pickup.

Witnesses said a man in a black Toyota truck shot and killed 60-year-old Thornton “Jack” Bivens about 8 a.m. as he arrived at work about 5 miles away.

Three shell casings from the same gun were found at that scene, prosecutors said. Those shells matched a pistol that Cormier had bought at a sporting goods store. He told police how to find the gun after he was arrested, Bennett said.

“He confessed to both murder cases,” Bennett told the judge, “as well as the aggravated assault that has not been filed.”

Police said they believe that between the first two shootings, Cormier likely returned to his trailer to collect some belongings then set fire to it. No charges have been filed on the fire.

Days after the shootings, Harris County deputies arrested Cormier after finding him sleeping in a park on Gaston Street off the Eastex Freeway in northeast Harris County. Several guns were recovered. brian.rogers@chron.com twitter.com/brianjrogers