The months-long manhunt for a woman accused of murdering an elderly Texas man has culminated in an arrest south of the border. Freda Michelle Thomas, suspected of the strangulation death of 88-year-old Robert Isaacks, is now in custody in Mexico, according to the Bandera County Sheriff's Office. Isaacks was reported missing on November 15, and his lifeless body was discovered in Crockett County two days later. His last known moments were captured on a doorbell camera, showing him entering his residence with Thomas. Hours later, the footage would chillingly depict Thomas leaving alone.
A statement obtained by KENS 5 confirms that an investigation posthaste followed, and authorities discovered Isaacks' blood within the home and an apparent theft of $25,000. "It’s senseless," lamented his daughter, Karen Chovanec. "There’s no reason to kill an 88-year-old man.” In a grim twist, an arrest warrant issued for Thomas laid bare the alleged motive—a tale of theft and death, with phone records implicating her presence in Isaacks' final days.
The suspect had managed to remain elusive even after local authorities dug deeper into the case, finding a jacket with what could be blood stains and a witness description of Thomas driving off in a jeep covered with a black tarp. As reported by KSAT, that same jeep surfaced in Las Vegas in December, but Thomas was nowhere to be found. It wasn't until this week that Mexican officials were to finally apprehend her, now awaiting deportation to face murder charges on U.S. soil.
While the family still reels from their loss, Isaacks' other daughter, Stephanie Holan, has wrapped her grief in action, founding an initiative which seeks to advocate for the families of other missing Texans. This foundation not only provides a voice but also gathers resources to offer reward money to crack unsolved cases. "Right now, we are working on a transfer of custody. She will be deported back to the United States so we can to steadily work on court proceedings for homicide,” the sheriff's office said in their community announcement.
The Bandera County Sheriff's Office urges anyone with additional information about the case to come forward. Contact numbers have been disseminated, hoping to shed further light on the circumstances surrounding Robert Isaacks' tragic demise.
