A decade-long unsolved homicide case has finally reached a grim resolution. 52-year-old Raymond O. Lincoln has been sentenced to life in prison for the 2013 murder of Erick Shears, after DNA evidence tied him to the scene of the brutal stabbing. Shears, 43, was found deceased by a family member in his west Houston apartment, the floor and his surroundings a silent testament to the violence he suffered. The case remained cold until a recent review by homicide detectives of the Houston Police Department, leading to Lincoln's confession and his subsequent life sentence, as reported by Click2Houston.
The turn of events unfolded when Shears was discovered in his apartment on Fountainview Drive, dead from multiple stab wounds. For years, the case had no leads or suspects, until technological advancements and diligent police work unearthed DNA evidence connecting Lincoln to the crime. As noted by FOX 26 Houston, Lincoln was already in jail on unrelated charges when he was interviewed by detectives and admitted involvement in Shears' death..
Familial ties added a poignant backdrop to this case, as the victim's uncle, Curtis Anderson, recalled warning Shears about the type of person Lincoln was. "From what he told me about this guy and him meeting this guy, I told him I wouldn’t mess with that type of guy," Anderson said in a 2023 interview obtained by Click2Houston. The history of Shears' relationship with his killer added a layer of complexity to the investigation, with messages recovered between the two implying a closer relationship.
Unsettling parallels were drawn to a previous conviction of Lincoln's dating back to 1992. The victim then had also been male, and Lincoln had likewise claimed unwanted sexual advances as a motive. Found with his feet first by Anderson, who initially thought Shears had simply fallen, the brutal reality set in only as the full scene came into view, with blood painting a grotesque portrait on the apartment floor, as per the Click2Houston report.
Houston authorities encourage anyone with information on other cases involving Raymond Lincoln to come forward and contact Houston Crime Stoppers or the Houston Police Department Homicide Division.
