Valerie Jackson sent a text message to her mother pleading for help the night her ex-boyfriend David Conley Shot and Killed her, her husband and their six children — including Conley’s own son.
Jackson, 40, sent her mom a text saying she and her children were being held at gunpoint.
Her mother, who was 4 states away, acted quickly by calling the Harris County Sheriff’s Office in Houston.
Four deputies were dispatched to the home for a welfare check. They looked in a window and spotted the body of a child on the floor. The deputies forced entry into the home but were pushed back by gunfire.
Hours later, Conley gave himself up. Police found eight bodies in the home — 2 adults and 6 children. All were bound and shot in the head execution style.
The dead were identified as Jackson, her 50-year-old husband Dewayne Jackson; and their children Dewayne, Jr., 10; Honesty, 11; Caleb, 9; Trinity, 7; and Jonah, 6. Also killed was Conley’s son Nathaniel, 13, from a prior relationship with Jackson.
“My heart goes out to the mother who received the text from her daughter that she was in trouble, and the mother was many states away but of course did what any mother would do and called 911,” said Harris District Attorney Devon Anderson.
Neighbors told reporters they saw police come to the home twice that Saturday. The police reportedly knocked on the door and left when no one answered.
“Police knew about it. And I’m just shocked that they didn’t actually do anything to prevent it,” said Carlos Sanchez, who lived across the street from the family.
Conley had a long criminal history that included multiple arrests for domestic violence incidents involving Jackson.
He lived in the home with Jackson and her children until she threw him out and changed the locks last week. Jackson reportedly reunited with her husband.
Conley told police he returned to the home on Saturday to find the locks changed. He said he crawled in through an open window.
Conley is charged with capitol murder. He made his first court appearance yesterday.
